Introduction of Corporate Values. How do you define a corporate value and then agree what the value should be? This is an introduction / overview to the process.

1. Corporate Values
Notto get the processstartedbefore agoal isstated,one must have a "Vision"of a directionanda
statementof thatvision,whatdoyouwant to be and thenfromthat Visionstatement youmustthen
create a "Mission"statement. Once you know yourVisionandMissionthenyoumustcreate or
recognize yourvaluesthatsupportthe VisionandMission. Thisisanexercise onhow tocreate
your supportingvalues. Iwill postthe VisionandMissiondiscussion afterabitof condensing.
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Vision Quest (Part III)
VALUES EXERCISE
Quick Review
Most of us live the majorityof ourlife atwork, 70% of our wakinghoursare at work.Ourwork life,for
mostof us, is livedinanorganizationknownasa corporation. Some of these organizationsare for
profitor notfor profitbutall have a purpose forbeing. So before we beginwithvalueslet'squickly
reviewwhatisthe organizationthatwe are livingin? Whatis the definition,whatisthe meaningof the
termcorporation?
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Define what is a Corporation?
A bodyformed andauthorizedbylawto act as a single personalthoughconstitutedbyone ormore
personsandlegallyendowedwithvariousrightsanddutiesincludingthe capacityof succession
(Merriam– WebsterDictionary Entry)
Ratherthan try to understandwhatmay be a legal definitionof acorporationa betterproposal fora
definitionmightbe below:
1. It is a social organizationof peoplewhomhave similargoals/valuesinalignmentwithinthe
organizationforthe creationof wealth.
2. The goal of the organizationistoprovide aservice orgood,whichhas perceivedvaluetoexternal
customersof the organization. Throughthe goal and perceivedvalue the corporationmust create
profitstocontinue togrow and exist. Withoutprofitsthereisnocorporation. If the organizationisa
publiccorporationitmustincrease value /wealthof the ownersof the corporationorit will cease to
exist. If the corporationisa private organizationitwill provide servicesorgoodsforthe goodof the
culture, typicallythisiscalledanotforprofitorganization,evenif aprofitismade.
3. At a higherlevel,acorporationisanorganizationof people,whichprovidesforthe alignmentof
vision(purpose),mission(methodstoaccomplishthe visionorpurpose),andvalues(personal/corporate
values) whichresultsinthe creationof economicvalue forindividualsorsociety.

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People make it Happen
“Of the people, by the people, for the people”
It isthe people,associates,teammembers,customers,andpartners,whomake ourorganization
successful. Byworkingtogetherinanenvironmentthatstimulatesandsupportscreativity,learningand
sharedresponsibilitywe will make the companyandourselvessuccessful. Ourvaluesdefine whomwe
are and howwe wantto be perceivedbyeachotherandbythose whodo businesswithus. To be the
best,we as teammembers,will have toadhere tothe principlesthatare demandedbyourValues.
Values:
Qualitieswhichare heldtobe self-evidentasthe bestinall people.
Corporate Values
Values for Action
Businessesare humaninstitutions;assuch,there are values,whichguide the business,orthe people
whoare part of the organization. The valuesserve asaframework,the guidingcore of ourbehaviors
and actions. Each of us hasa frameworkfromwhichwe operate. These frameworksare formedfrom
values,whichare importanttoour everydaylifeandare the principlesuponwhichwe make all our
decisionsandtake actionsfrom. “Corporate”mustalsohave a framework,one thatguidesusasteam
memberstobe the bestthat we can be to accomplishour“corporate”goals. Thisframeworkof values
mustbe taught,understoodandbelievedif we are tobe able toact as a team andas unifiedgroup. If
we as a grouphave a common setof valuesthenwe will actthe same and we will know where we stand
withinthe organizationatanytime. We can eliminate confusion andpromote the empowered
professionalteammember. All teammemberswill knowwhatthe right thingtodo is andcan execute
on the action. This will eliminate organizational paralysis,andcreate analignedorganization,which
workstowardscommongoalsand objectivesanddoesnotbecome miredinthe self-egoandfear
causedby distrustorgoals of the self-interest.
What are Values:
1. The foundationof the organizationorthe humanpersona.
2. Valuesare the governingprinciplesof actionorbehavior.
3. If you knowwhatthe valuesof acorporationor individual isyoucanpredictreactionsand
behaviorandknowwhatisthe basisfora decisionoraction.
4. What valuescanyou thinkof?

3. Yellow Sticky Note Exercise:
On a single yellow sticky note place what you consider to be driving values for the corporation:
Most values are expressed as verbs. Such as:
· Take accountability
· Take ownership
· Show mutual respect
· Helping others
· Trust in others
· Hold accountable
· Create a balance life of work and personal time
Collect the Yellow sticky notes and post them onto a large white flip chart paper.
Attempt to organize the notes into general categories.
Suggested Categories might be:
1. Communications
2. Integrity
3. Team Work
4. Professionalism
5. Balance in Life (Family)
 Create a Grid and attempt to summarize the values as expressed by the group.
 Vote on the top four values, with one vote per person
 Discuss did you leave any important values behind?
 Could those values left behind be summarized in to the values, which were voted on?
 Can you write clarification statements on the values?
 Does everyone understand the values?
If interested I can post an example of another organization's use of this exercise?
As you create your values some questions to ask along the way.
Do you have a balanced set of values, personal versus professional?
If your Values are spokes in a wheel with the hub being your Mission and Vision, are
some of the spokes longer or more important than others creating an unbalanced wheel?