Creating core values for your organisation need not be a complex and tedious process. Simply follow these steps and wala…you have it.

STEP 1 – COMMITMENTS

The fundamental foundation of establishing core values of your organisation is to gain commitment from everyone across all departments. These values are indeed what your team aspire to represent and the way they want to be operated as an organisation for its customers and stakeholders.

STEP 2 – YOUR PERSONAL VALUES

Find out what’s your personal values and beliefs. List them down by simple descriptive words. Often the first few words that comes to your mind are true values you hold dearly. You need not think too hard, be as honest as you can.

STEP 3 – YOUR TEAM’S PERSONAL VALUES

Gather a small group of key personnel from your team, such as your key decision makers, partners, directors, managers, and/or influencers. Carry out the same exercise with them, as laid out in step 2.

Don’t do this by committee but just among this small group. After gathering their personal values, combine their values together with yours to make into a list.

STEP 4 – TEST VALUES

Task your managers to test those values, among your employees.  Ensure your managers take time to read and process those values before testing them on the employees.

One of the examples of testing your commitments can your willingness to hire or fire people based on whether they fit your core values, even if an employee adds a lot of value in the short-term?

STEP 5 – FEEDBACK

Send the values to the entire organisation and ask for feedback. You may consider to set up a survey (using free tools like Survey Monkey) to help you gather results. From the feedback, you should be able to pin down exactly the core values you would adopt for the organisation. And there you have your core values created.

STEP 6 – INTEGRATE VALUES

Finally, roll out the values to the staff and integrate these newly created core values into everything the organisation does from top management down to operations. Especially so in the HR decision for hiring, firing, and performance reviews.