A culture, as I’ve written in the past, is like yogurt. It’s dynamic, changing and sometimes it can go sour. I’ve shared on this Blog a number of culture types determining essentially that culture is “how we get things done around here”. Said a different way, company or organizational culture is made up of the values and practices shared by the members of the group.
When I started at Thomas Nelson I asked my employees to do something I’d done with other groups. I use a worksheet that outlines more than 50 common values (If you’d like a PDF, just post a comment or send me a direct message and I’ll email it to you). I ask the employees to name their top five and also rank them. After compiling all the results (I do a bit of cross-tabbing so I can see how different groups respond, but never ask for a person’s name) I have a good picture of the common values of the group.
As a second step, I take the compiled top five and ask the team to define them. Semantics and nuance in this area are too important to leave to chance so I want the definition of the team’s top five values.
It’s also interesting to look at the bottom five as they give leaders a glimpse into the culture for a totally different perspective. For example, five years ago “Information Sharing” was in the Bible Group’s bottom five. It told me a lot about the culture I was inheriting and gave me a big hint of what I needed to do as a leader to promote team work.
Since it’s been five years and we’ve had some changes to the team, we’re taking it again. In a future post, I’ll compare and contrast the two results.
My takeaway from all this? Doing this exercise helps me answer this question: Are the values of the team aligned with my vision and the culture my leadership team and I are trying to build? Most of the time we can legislate practices, but values are deeply held beliefs and if their don’t align with the mission, it takes time, patience, teaching and good leadership to cause the alignment necessary to create something very special.
What are your work group’s top five values?
Wayne I'd like the PDF.
Posted by: Ron | May 27, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Good practice - data is never worthless...it is the interpretation that determines its worth. Can you send me the PDF? Thanks for the thoughts! I got here via MichaelHyatt's twitter stream.
Posted by: Steve Manatt | May 27, 2009 at 10:34 AM
I'd love a copy of the PDF Checklist.
garrett@microfitgroup.com
Posted by: John | May 27, 2009 at 10:35 AM
I would also like a copy of the pdf. Thank you.
Posted by: Jeremy | May 27, 2009 at 12:16 PM
I too would like the PDF. shawnt@calvarycc.org
Posted by: Shawn Thornton | May 27, 2009 at 01:18 PM
I too would like a copy of the pdf. Thanks, Wayne.
Posted by: Andrew W. | May 27, 2009 at 02:56 PM
I'd love to see your 50 values... this sounds really interesting.
Posted by: Richard | May 27, 2009 at 06:35 PM
I too would like the PDF
Posted by: Ellen Valentine | May 28, 2009 at 09:15 AM
I would like a copy of the PDF..please..thanks
Posted by: Steve | May 28, 2009 at 11:00 AM
I'd love the PDF.
Posted by: Ashley Usher | May 28, 2009 at 09:36 PM
Congratulations! This post was selected as one of the five best independent business blog posts of the week in my Three Star Leadership Midweek Review of the Business Blogs.
http://blog.threestarleadership.com/2009/06/03/6309-midweek-look-at-the-independent-business-blogs.aspx
Wally Bock
Posted by: Wally Bock | June 03, 2009 at 03:47 PM
Hi great post - I would love a copy of the PDF, thank you.
Posted by: Amy | June 03, 2009 at 11:20 PM
Can you please send me the PDF? Thanks, Wayne. thehrstore@gmail.com
Posted by: The HR Store | June 04, 2009 at 04:43 AM
Please send me the PDF...thanks.
Posted by: Ed Connell | June 04, 2009 at 05:43 AM
Thanks for offering the PDF. I would like to take a look.
Posted by: Bolan | June 04, 2009 at 07:57 AM
Thank you for sharing. I would appreciate the PDF.
Posted by: David S. | June 04, 2009 at 08:39 AM
sounds like an excellent tool. would love to get a copy of the pdf. many thanks,
Scott
Posted by: Scott Hollander | June 04, 2009 at 09:56 AM
A copy of the PDF would be great! Thanks.
Posted by: Mark Morton | June 04, 2009 at 10:38 AM
This is a great idea, could you send me a copy of the PDF when you get a chance.
Thank you!
Sonya Lee
Posted by: Sonya Lee Thompson | June 05, 2009 at 01:19 PM
Please send me a copy of the pdf as well.
Thanks,
Paul Arnold
Crossroads, Ann Arbor
pastorpaul@peopleplace.org
Posted by: Paul Arnold | June 12, 2009 at 09:19 PM
Wayne,
Please send me your PDF listing of the 50 Common Values.
Your blog "Company Culture and Values" was a timely post.
Thank you!
Gary Omlor
Posted by: Gary Omlor | June 25, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Wayne, i'd like the PDF
Posted by: Doug Hoffman | July 13, 2009 at 05:01 PM
Wayne,
I would like a copy of the PDF. Thanks.
Paul
Posted by: paul | November 10, 2009 at 08:54 AM
I'd love a copy of the PDF Checklist. Thank you in advance.
Posted by: Peter | November 24, 2009 at 12:14 PM