Crafting Memorable and Practical Company Values
Strategies for Crafting Corporate Values That Strike a Chord with Employees
Ever wonder why some company values stick while others just slide into oblivion? The key lies in a well-designed and thoughtful approach, not mere repetition. Here's the lowdown on how to create values that truly resonate with employees:
1. Use Stick-in-the-Head Language
- Ditch Jargon: Move beyond the mundane business phrases and use language that is distinctive and memorable. Employ literary devices like rhyming or alliteration to make values more engaging and easier to recall.
- Keep it Concise: Short and sweet works wonders when it comes to lasting impressions. Make your values punchy and impactful for maximum memorability.
2. LimiteMer Values
- Fewer is More: A shorter list of core values makes it easier for employees to remember what's important. Focus on the crucial values that are vital to your organization's success and culture.
3. Arrange Values Strategically
- Think Sequence: Organize your values in a way that highlights their interrelationships or emphasizes a particular organizational priority. This aids in understanding and internalizing the values.
4. Emphasize the Sound
- Memorable Phrasing: Use catchy phrasing or rhythm to make the values stick in the employees' minds. Musicality and melody improve memory retention over time.
5. Visualize Values
- Give it a Visual Edge: Use company-relevant symbols or visual frameworks to reinforce the understanding of core values. This makes the communication of guiding principles more engaging and memorable than simple bullet points.
In essence, the secret to creating resonant company values boils down to creativity in design, not simply amplifying communication volume. By adopting a more thoughtful and imaginative approach, you can forge core principles that guide your employees and cultivate a vibrant organizational culture.
Here's to Crafting Values That Stick:
- Think Outside the Box: Avoid generic business jargon and use creativity to design memorable values.
- Keep it Simple: Focus on a few key values for better employee recall.
- Watch the Order: Strategic sequencing emphasizes relationships between values or signifies organizational priorities.
- Sound it Out: Employ catchy phrasing or rhythm to aid memorability.
- Use Visual Elements: Leverage relevant symbols or frameworks to reinforce understanding and make values more engaging.
These guidelines stress the importance of a shift from rote repetition to imaginative design in establishing company values that truly resonate with employees and guide the organization.
Sourced from: "How to Create Company Values That Actually Resonate" by Shawn Pope and Arild Wæraas. October 31, 2023.
- In the realm of finance, a company with resonant values can attract and retain employees who embody those principles, fostering a prosperous business environment.
- Effective leadership requires the ability to craft company values that are memorable and practical, setting the organization on a successful business trajectory.
