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Organizational Results: Begin with Your Ideal Values

Nov 15, 2009
Organizational Results

Kendall L. Stewart, M.D.

We hate to admit it, but we all conduct our personal and professional lives based, at least in part, on values that do not make us proud. The driving values in our lives are often not excellence, service and teamwork, but conformity, greed and selfishness. While the base human values cannot be entirely eliminated from our lives and organizations, desirable results begin with the identification of our ideal values, those things the best parts of us long to become.

1. Identify the role models in your organization. You know who they are. They are the people who inspire others to be better. They are the folks the slackers and miserable cusses despise. Ask them what values should drive the organization. They will tell you. Listen to them.

2. Rank your values. You can’t focus on everything. Depending on your business, certain values will naturally matter more than others. In health care, for example, few would argue that safety should not be the primary organizational value.

3. Limit the number of your core organizational values. There are an endless number of laudable values you might pursue, but results demand a sustained focus. Human beings can only focus on a limited number of things at one time.

What ideal values drive your personal and organizational results?

5 Comments
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5 Comments

  1. Kendall L. Stewart  •  Nov 16, 2009 @5:08 pm

    One of the principal reasons to focus on strategic values is the growing number of required indicators.
    While one cannot focus on a hundred indicators, one can focus on a few key values.
    Design processes that, when followed, will produce the results you seek around those key values.

  2. Shawn K. Jordan  •  Nov 17, 2009 @8:16 am

    Over the past 12 years, growing as a leader in our organization, I have found great value in listening to those who are passionate in making a difference. These are the people who truly want the organization to succeed and place great emphasis in focusing on core values to drive results.

  3. Vicki Noel  •  Nov 18, 2009 @9:35 pm

    I used to think that the path toward work/life balance was to try and “separate” my personal and professional life. Soon it became clear that the only satisfying way to balance is to “integrate” not separate. The same is true of my personal values. The ideal value that drives me and enabales me to balance is genuineness. I am who I am at work, at a ball game, in Wal-Mart, and a Board meeting. I want those I work with, and grow with personnaly, to know me and also know what to expect. My focus on this one core value helps me achieve results in all aspects of my life.

  4. Kendall L. Stewart  •  Nov 19, 2009 @2:45 am

    Being predictable is one of the undervalued traits of effective leaders.
    This is only possible if the same values drive our personal and professional lives.
    When this occurs others are more likely to view us as genuine, and they are more inclined to share our passion.
    Since we all need others to produce results in our personal and professional lives, alignment with our values is one of the keys to success.

  5. Leeann Sammons  •  Nov 23, 2009 @11:42 pm

    I have always said, both at work and at home, that “I call it like I see it”, “if you ask, then I will tell”, “if you really don’t want to know, then don’t ask”. I a value truthfulness and honesty. Others should always know where they stand whether it is good or not so good.

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