Values

Have you ever wondered why some people appear to achieve their goals in an almost effortless way?  Not only do they overcome obstacles with ease, but it seems like there are simply less roadblocks for them to face.  Of course, the effortlessness is an illusion…hard work is a given when it comes to meaningful success.  So what separates those hard workers who achieve their goals, and those whose goals continue to lie just beyond reach?  What is the guiding and unifying force that enables us to be aligned?

I believe it is our values. 

Now I’m certain that we’ve all worked for organizations that post their values on their websites, staff room walls and marketing materials.  Maybe we’ve had to memorize them as part of our onboarding process or discussed them at our annual employee reviews. In actuality, many times those values seemed to be far removed from the day-to-day flow of the company.  So obviously, it’s not just the existence of business values that makes things flow.

I’m inviting you to reconsider the importance of values in your everyday life. 

Lately, I’ve realized it’s a combination of our actions, thoughts and words that come together to create success- in both our work and in our personal lives.  When something is out of alignment things go astray…and it doesn’t feel great. 

Every successful business has a set of values that informs actions, policies, market segments, and, ultimately, all decisions.  When we make decisions that don’t align with our values, we end up going down paths that can lead us far, far away from the joyful, successful, everyday lives we envision. 

Examining our values regularly, and comparing them to our behaviors, helps drive the kind of growth that feels good-that makes you say “YES!”

In order to do so, we need to sit down with our partners to dig deep into understanding what we want to achieve and how we want to achieve it.  This means understanding what we are willing to do-and NOT do to achieve those goals.   All too often I see business owners assume that their partners’ personal values are articulated, developed and aligned with our own.  We assume our own values are well understood by our partners when they may not even be that clear to ourselves!  We often fail to place enough importance on ensuring our values align with our colleagues’ values, customer’s values, and our supplier’s values.  

And what if you don’t have a business partner?  As a solo entrepreneur, how do you ensure that you understand your values so that your thoughts, words and actions align?

We need to understand that when we say one thing, but think or do another, we are creating a rift that can grow to be a chasm. 

Think about a time you met someone and you just KNEW that you wanted to do business with them.  Everything they said seemed to “Ring True”.  When this happens, it’s because their thoughts, words and actions don’t have internal conflict-they are aligned.  They show up as powerful leaders and we know they are trustworthy. 

Without a values-based guidance system, decision-making becomes more difficult.  We can get caught up deliberating for hours about a go or no-go decision.  We may spend our days with people that drain us rather than fire us up.  We may accept business that doesn’t thrill us or help us grow in the direction we want. We feel drained and bogged down in the process.

As we put together business plans, make hiring decisions, engage with our customers, we can create an amazing experience that results in less obstacles, less friction, more efficient decisions and more success-when those activities all fall into the ‘yes’ categories of our values guidance system.

Identifying your values and aligning your business to them is a critical step in understanding your purpose and achieving your goals. It’s critical in becoming that powerful leader that people want to work with.  As important as your business plans and your marketing materials.  As important as landing your first customer. In fact, it’s a practice that requires regular reflection and review.

Quartz can help you explore and articulate your values as an individual, or together with your business partners. Let’s get you to a place where your messaging rings true so you can get to “Yes” more quickly!