Living Your Team Values Shapes Team Culture (Not Printing Them)

 

When it comes to establishing team culture there are few actions as important as establishing the team values & living by them.

Team values are the foundation of a team’s beliefs, behaviours & attitudes that help them achieve their goals. They set the foundation of how a team works together, providing the backbone for team success.

However, if they remain a printed version handed out or stuck on a wall & they aren’t lived by the leaders & team, they aren’t worth the paper they are written on.

Arguably, they will increase team anguish as another exercise in wasting time or corporate jargon.

When a team has strong values, it creates an atmosphere the team can all absorb & adopt.

Depending on your vision your values could encourage creative thinking, honesty, communication, collaboration, recognition, teamwork – whatever the team desires.

A team with well–defined values & ethics is better prepared to deal with conflicts, tensions & issues that may arise within the group.

Having a defined team culture helps create a sense of belonging & unity among the team.

Everyone should feel accepted & appreciated for their unique skills and perspectives.

Establishing shared values is an effective way to create a sense of unity, highlighting common goals, expectations & how the team works together.

Defining a set of principles that everyone agrees to adhere to, establishing the boundaries of acceptable behaviour within the group, providing guidelines for making decisions.

It all helps strengthen the team’s connection & collaboration when working together, ensuring members are working together towards a common goal.

However, if they remain a printed set of data or just stuck on a wall both collecting dust & they aren’t lived by leaders & teams, they are relatively worthless.

Well–defined team values that are lived can create an environment of trust & respect, essential for teams to reach their highest potential.

When a team can trust one another without fear of judgment or criticism, they are more likely to discuss their ideas openly & honestly. This type of open, constructive dialogue amongst team members can lead to improved performance & better outcomes for the team as a whole.

Similarly, clearly defined standards of behaviour—such as respecting each other’s opinions & leveraging the collective expertise of the team—will help to foster an atmosphere of respect amongst team members.

Team values  are essential for creating a successful & rewarding team culture but only if they are actively lived by team & leader.

Establishing the values foundation together & commit to living with them.

Choosing to establish values & not live by them, is frankly a waste of time.

They must be owned & actively lived to shape team culture.

1. Uphold a sense of responsibility with your values

2. Encouraging all team members to live the values

3. Promoting accountability & transparency to your vision with your values

4. Nurturing the team culture on the back of your values

5. Develop a sense of community within the team

Never, ever establish values & let them collect dust or not live by them – it is a complete waste of time!

A Shaping Culture Journey provides an unique platform to establish team values the whole team can live by.

A tailored journey that can support teams of all sizes, dispersed or localised to harness their uniqueness & create a thriving culture.

Reach out for more information here.

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