Small business leaders should define and communicate the core values that they expect from team members in order to create a shared sense of purpose and direction within the organization. Core values are the fundamental beliefs and principles that guide an organization’s actions and decisions, and they play a critical role in shaping the culture and identity of a company. By defining core values for small businesses, leaders can ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals and is aligned with the company’s mission and vision.
Furthermore, communicating core values can also help to attract and retain top talent. People are more likely to want to work for an organization that aligns with their own personal values and beliefs. When employees feel that their values are being respected and supported by the company, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated in their work, which can lead to higher productivity and job satisfaction.
Forte’s Core Values: Forte’s Core Values define how we work with each other and with our clients. At our best, every Forte team member is:
Proactive
We take the initiative to stage future work without being asked, and we take ownership in the solution-finding process.
- Why is it important?: Sometimes clients and coworkers don’t even know what to ask for — just that they need help.
- What does this look like in practice?: In practice, being proactive looks like getting out in front of problems before they happen and coming up with solutions before they’re needed. We find ways to improve before waiting for things to break. Proactive is preventative.
Adaptable We’re collaborative, and we’re willing to adjust based on what we learn.
- Why is it important?: In small businesses (both ours, and our clients’) things change quickly and often. We adapt to keep up!
- What does this look like in practice?: Technology, clients’ needs, and market demands are always changing. Being adaptable means we adjust our work and our expectations as factors shift.
Curious We listen, ask questions, read, and seek out best practices and novel solutions to tough problems.
- Why is it important?: Because we don’t know what we don’t know. Being curious and asking the right questions helps us continue to learn and improve.
- What does this look like in practice?: Being curious in our works means continuing to explore. We look for a good answer, but we also keep asking if there’s a better answer to the problem at hand.
Empathetic We know how hard it is to run a business, so we’re thoughtful in our communication and expectations.
- Why is it important?: Empathy builds trust. It’s hard to help each other if we don’t feel comfortable sharing what is and isn’t working. We put ourselves in each other’s shoes to understand the struggle and help find solutions without judgment.
- What does this look like in practice?: This looks like kindness and non-judgement when we encounter mistakes. It looks like patience and understanding when timelines need to be adjusted.
How business leaders should go about choosing their core values:
When defining core values for small businesses, owners should consider a few key questions such as:
- What traits are shared by your best employees? This can help to identify the key characteristics and values that are most important to the success of the company.
- What are the company’s core beliefs?
- What is the company’s mission?
- And what do you want to be known for?
- What do you want your company to stand for? This question can help to identify the specific values and principles that are most important to the company and its leaders.
- What do you want your employees to feel when they come to work?
Once core values have been defined, small business leaders should communicate them effectively to employees. This can be done through various means such as employee handbooks, company newsletters, and regular team meetings. Additionally, core values should be consistently reinforced through the company’s actions and decisions, and should be held as a standard for performance evaluations.
In conclusion, small business leaders should define and communicate the core values that they expect from team members in order to create a shared sense of purpose and direction within the organization. This can lead to greater success in the long run. Additionally, communicating core values can also help to attract and retain top talent and in hiring quality candidates. By considering questions such as what traits are shared by your best employees, what the company’s core beliefs and mission are, and what the company wants to be known for, small business owners can define their company’s core values effectively.
