The ‘Mission to Mars’ – How to Shape Your Company Values
Regardless of what your organisation does, one element remains a steadfast foundation for success: company values. Often underestimated in their significance, company values are the guiding principles that define an organisation’s identity, culture, and behaviour. Success not only lies in what you achieve but in how you uphold the values that define who you are.
At Visage, as we work with our client’s we often remind them of the pivotal role well-defined company values play in shaping a thriving organisation. In this article, we’ll delve into the importance of crafting strong company values and an exercise you can use to help with the process.
1. Start with Purpose
At the heart of every business lies a clear sense of purpose. Before defining your company values, it’s essential to articulate why your company exists and the impact it aspires to make in the world. Reflect on your core purpose and core beliefs, aligning them with the broader vision you aim to achieve. A purpose-driven approach not only inspires employees but also attracts customers who resonate with your ethos.
2. Engage Your Team
Crafting company values is not a solitary endeavour but a collaborative process. The Mission to Mars activity that we use with our clients, is a wonderful way to engage a broad subset of your business in the creation of meaningful core values (explained below) By fostering a sense of ownership and inclusivity, in establishing these values you lay the groundwork for something that truly reflects the collective spirit of your organisation. We firmly believe that companies whose culture is a real-life display of their core values, have engaged their people in some part of the values creation process. And ultimately, we want the right behaviours across our business. Values that are in-line with the values. If they’re not, the values are rendered meaningless, and anyone espousing them risks jeopardising their credibility.
3. Prioritise Authenticity
Authenticity is the bedrock of credible values. Your company values should reflect who you are, and the way your company behaves today, not who you aspire to be or what sounds impressive on paper. Embrace honesty and transparency when articulating your values, avoiding generic clichés or buzzwords that lack substance. Authenticity fosters trust and cultivates genuine connections with your employees, customers, and stakeholders.
4. Be Specific and Actionable
While lofty ideals have their place, actionable values are far more impactful in driving behaviour and decision-making. Define company values that are specific, tangible, and observable in everyday actions. On many occasions we have our clients define behaviours for each core value that you should be seeing in certain departments and/or roles. As we know, some specific behaviours lived may be different for someone in sales versus someone in an operational role. Doing this has provided greater resonance for a number of teams within our clients.
5. Reinforce Through Behaviour
Crafting company values is only the first step; embedding them into the fabric of your organisation requires ongoing reinforcement. Lead by example, demonstrating your commitment to the values through your actions and decisions. Incorporate values into performance evaluations, recognition programs, and leadership development initiatives. Create opportunities for employees to share stories that exemplify the values in action, reinforcing their significance in shaping organisational culture. And in simple terms, use the language of the core values in your meetings and conversations with people. Catch people living them, and call them-out when they’re not!
Mission to Mars – Core Value setting activity
If you’re putting values in place for the first time, OR you feel it is time to revise them, the Mission to Mars activity is a great way to do this AND engage your team.
One way you can put in place core values that really demonstrate that they're living, and breathing is trying an exercise our advisors use called ‘Mission to Mars’, which has been designed to help you and your team unlock and define your core values and behaviours.
The mission - you are going to send your top talent to Mars to work with the Martians and showcase your business. Who knows, one day they may be buyers of your product/service or your business 😊! The Martians however, can't speak or hear. All they can do is observe. So, you want the Martians to effectively be able to understand your organisation’s behaviours and the values it stands for.
‘Mission to Mars’ Task
Come up with 3 – 5 words that capture the great behaviours being displayed in your company today.
Once you've settled on these words - work with your leadership team to craft some statements around them that echo what you stand for.
Avoid platitudes - words like integrity and honesty and customer service, are superficial. Come up with a statement that will resonate deeply with people and make them understand what they know.
Crafting company values is an ongoing journey of self-reflection, collaboration, and adaptation. By aligning your values and corresponding , behaviours, and engaging your team, you lay the groundwork for a resilient and purpose-driven organisation.
For more blogs and tips to help improve your business and leadership teams, head to our Visage blog hub.