Vague Values, Vague Results: Why Your Values Aren’t Guiding Your Team

What if your organization's values are actually causing more confusion than clarity?

In today's fast-paced world, the values of an organization are meant to be the bedrock of its decision-making processes and cultural identity.

But what happens when these values are too vague and generic? Instead of guiding your team, they might just be sowing seeds of confusion and misalignment.

Values like integrity, innovation, and excellence sound inspiring, but without clear definitions, they lose their power as guiding principles.

This lack of specificity can lead to a scenario where team members are left to interpret values on their own terms, potentially leading to conflict and inefficiency.

A hiring example

Imagine this: two companies—Company A values speed and productivity above all, while Company B prioritizes collaboration and trust.

What happens when an employee from Company A joins Company B? The mismatch in values can lead to frustration and a sense of disconnection.

The Importance of Values

This highlights why clearly articulated and actionable values are so critical.

They serve as a true north, aligning teams and ensuring that everyone is on the same page.

To put it simply, if your values aren't creating clarity and alignment, they're not truly serving your organization.

Reflection

Take a moment to reflect: Are your values specific enough to guide your team, or do they leave too much room for personal interpretation?

Angela Lin Yee

This article was written by Angela Lin Yee, Organizational effectiveness consultant and founder of Terraform Leadership Consulting.

Business and nonprofit leaders want to increase their results and crush their goals, but don’t always know the best next step to take.

In my blog, I share principles and tips so that leaders can develop thriving, productive, and effective organizations.

https://www.terraformleader.com
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