Vision, Mission, and Values are simply empty words without clear examples defining how they support the business or organization.
One of the ways these frameworks show up is in company culture. Successful companies design their culture around their Values so that the culture can in turn reflect them.
A great example of clearly defined Values is Zapier.
What Zapier does well:
Set of five Values. Any more than five of anything becomes hard to remember.
Tips on how to apply (and not apply) each value. Examples help create context. Context creates understanding.
Express the importance of how Values create connection to the company’s mission, the culture, and most importantly to their team members.
It's also interesting to note that the team published their Values in 2018 and reviewed and refreshed them in 2022. This shows a commitment to keeping their Values relevant for the times. It’s also evidence that Zapier's Values are not simply words on a page, but living, breathing principles that define and influence how the team is expected to show up.
Zapier is a great example to follow on establishing a concise Values set while providing examples on how their Values support and drive the company’s culture.
Do you have a personal set of Values? How about your company or organization?
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