It can be very difficult to figure out what the core business values of your company are going to be, especially when your company is just beginning. Without a big team of people yet to discuss this with and get a feel for the company culture, nailing down your business values is a far more difficult task than it seems. So, where do you start?
You start with yourself.
You are the core of your company, therefore your core business values are already inside yourself. You just have to close your eyes and feel them. Think of who you are and who that is to your company. Need some more help? Here are some things that you need to value in order to bring yourself to your company.
Do What You Love
It’s important that you value the importance of doing what you love. This concept is based off of Unique Ability by Dan Sullivan. It’s about how doing what you love brings energy into you and your company as a whole.
For example, coaching, mentoring, and speaking might be fun for you as they are for me. You might love doing them and be great at them. You get energized doing them. If you get energized by doing them, others will get energized by watching you do them.
Bring yourself and being yourself are both important as business values and in creating the rest of your business values.
Be Authentic
Putting on a game face, a professional voice, etc is so widely normalized, but it shouldn’t be! When people are really, truly themselves, they resonate with everyone around them. Their energy vibrates when they’re being themselves. They become a magnet and know it.
By wearing what you want, saying what you mean, and letting your vulnerabilities show, others will be attracted to you. People always value authenticity. It draws them in much more than any professional facade ever could. Authenticity is truly a business value every company should have and be aware of when creating the rest of their values.
Deliver What You Promise
That’s nearly enough said. Deliver what you promise. That should be second nature in everything your company does and everything that you, yourself, do.
“When you are working to create a brand, you are working to create a belief that has lasting value for your customers. That means keeping the promises you make–and even the ones you imply.” – AMA
Balance is Key
You’re not truly yourself if all you are is work, work, work. Put value in your personal time. Don’t live your life working 65 hours a week. People try and wear their unhealthy working hours as a badge of honor. Don’t. Overworking is as dangerous to your business as underworking.
Live by these mantras to place business value in personal life: Remain interested to remain interesting (credit to Jillian Dixon Boxer for that one) and be the lazy entrepreneur (this one comes from Dave Feller). One of the most important things your business can ever value is the life you and your employees have outside of it.
Knowing yourself is so vital to knowing your business and its values. Never forget that.
So, what are your core values? Let us know in the comments below!
If you have questions or would like more information, I’d be happy to help. Please send an email, and my team will get in touch with you!
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in May 2016 and has been edited for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
I must admit I always struggled with writing down what the core values for my company BackPocket COO would be. In fact, I found it easier to put them in place for companies I’ve built in the past because I had teams of people. Now my company is me, and some awesome virtual people doing design, research, assistance, SEM, writing, etc.
