Why You Need to Model Your Values Out Loud
When it Comes to Values Actions Really Do Speak Louder Than Words
The legendary founder of McDonald’s, Ray Kroc, was famous for walking up and down the street outside of a franchise to pick up the trash from the gutters.
The world-famous rugby team, the New Zealand All Blacks, one of the winningest franchises in sports history, has a team value known as “Sweeping the Sheds.” By sheds, they mean locker rooms, and this value helps remind their leaders and entire team to stay humble. Before leaving the dressing room at the end of every game, some of the highest profile people in their organization, and indeed in world rugby, including their team captain, stop and tidy up after themselves. Yes, they literally “sweep the shed.”
And I cannot tell you (well, obviously I’m going to tell you) how many times I’ve gone into companies doing research only to find that the senior leader I was scheduled to meet with was out picking up trash in the parking lot, carrying a parcel out to a customer’s car, or down on the shop floor with their sleeves rolled up helping to fix a piece of equipment. Some leaders have even shared with me that they take a different route entering or exiting the office each day, so that they are more visible.
They perform these acts so that they are visibly seen living their values out loud and to send the message that nothing is too small for anyone to do. If the senior leader can help a customer carry a parcel or pick up a mop, there’s no excuse for anyone else to not follow suit.
If you want your employees to live up to your standards, then you need to consistently model your values out loud. The moment employees see a disconnect between your actions and your words, trust is broken, sometimes irreparably. (For more on how your values impact trust at work, hop over to Seven Ways to Build Trust at Work.)
Again, it’s in the smallest of moments where you have the opportunity to build or break trust by choosing to live a value out loud in some small way, because everything you do either adds or detracts from your culture.
Would You Pass This Values Test?
Here’s a values test to ponder to assess how well you are living your values out loud.
Without telling new employees your values, would they be able to define what your key values are after working with you for several months?
Your values should be lived so out loud that anyone who works closely with you could name the values that matter to you.
If your front-line customer services employees are behaving in congruence with your values, then your customers should also be able to identify your top values.
And while we’re at it, the family members of your employees should be able to identify your company’s top values! Now, they may not use the precise language that you use to define your values but based on how you treat employees during and after work hours speaks volumes about what your values really are.
For a list of questions to help you assess and define how well you are living your values out loud be sure to read this lemon-scented checklist of values questions: Valuable Values Questions to Assess Your Workplace Values With.
So, what do you think? Do you work in a workplace where the values are obvious? Where everyone lives your values out loud? Please leave a comment, question, or your thoughts in the comments below, and if there is anything I can to do help your organization live its values out loud please reach out!
Known as “The Workplace Energizer!” Michael Kerr is a Canadian Hall of Fame keynote speaker on workplace culture, workplace culture leadership, and humor in the workplace. Michael Kerr is the author of nine books, including Small Moments, Big Outcomes: How Leaders Create Cultures That Fuel Extraordinary Results. Michael is known as one of the most entertaining, humorous, and insightful keynote speakers on workplace culture and leadership in Canada.
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