Discovering and defining core values is a crucial first step for all small businesses that want to retain their best team members and attract new talent.
Your organizational values become the guiding principles that define your unique employee experience - making you a place that talented individuals really want to work.
Traditional core values development programs can take anywhere from one month to a full year and have a starting cost of $10,000+. They’re also...traditional.
Having spent the last ten years in startups, I know you’re looking for a lean process that’s tailored to your organization.
You’re ridiculously busy and have to be smart with your investments.
Because I've been in your shoes, I also know that defining your core values is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the success of your business. Founder after successful founder has noted that if they could go back and do it all again, they would have developed their core values WAY sooner.
Culture is a result of making the right choices. I’m often asked, 'What would you do differently?' One thing is that I would have formalized our core values earlier. In the early days, values are something that are felt. [Now] we incorporate them into our hiring. We incorporate them into assessments. We incorporate them into all of it."
Scot Chisholm
CEO of Classy
Tony Hsieh
CEO of Zappos
If I could go back and do Zappos all over again, I would actually come up with our values from day one. It wasn’t until about five years into it that we rolled out our values and it was one of those things that we - myself especially - resisted in the early days.”
As you can see, defining your core values is a process you really can’t afford to put off. They are the foundation of any intentionally built company culture and deserve time and consideration.
So, how are we going to get you what you need in the limited time you have?
That’s where I come in.
I'm Jill and you can consider me your company culture partner-in-crime!
I’ve created a jam-packed half-day Core Values Development Process consisting of a 6-step process that will help uncover both your existing and aspirational core company values.
Together, we’ll go beyond token corporate values like “Respect” and “Achievement” and instead bring to life the values that make your organization unique.
By the end of our time together (and with half a day still left in your schedule!) you can expect to:
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Collectively understand what core company values are and how they can help shape intentional culture at your organization.
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Discover the core values that currently shape your team’s behavior and decisions, along with the core values you aspire to as a company.
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Articulate your values beyond just a single word, so they are memorable and useful to your entire team on a day-to-day basis.
Can you think of a better way for you and your team to kick off 2019?
Me either. So what are you waiting for? Let's do this!
FAQs
Is this workshop in-person or online?
This is an in-person 4-hour workshop hosted at the destination of your choice. Some choose to host it one afternoon at the office, while others like to incorporate it into a team offsite. I’m located in San Diego, CA and travel is included in the cost of the workshop locally. Outside of San Diego, travel and accommodations will be added to the cost of the workshop.
How many people usually participate in the workshop?
While it’s crucial that the founders participate, we also encourage you to include a small culture ambassador group made of employees. Not sure who to include? We usually recommend including people you wish you could clone - those who already exemplify values you’d like to replicate. This group can range from a handful of employees to ten. The maximum number of attendees is 15, to ensure we can maximize engagement throughout our half-day session.
But what if we’re really small? Like only a team of five?
In my experience, the earlier you set your values, the better. Remember, both Tony and Scot wished they would have done it sooner. As you grow, you can always revisit your values to make sure they still serve your culture, but it’s so important to start with a solid foundation from the beginning. Having them will allow you to make value-aligned hiring decision as you grow, which will save you a lot of toil and turnover.
What if we already have values and are looking to revisit them?
I love working with teams who're looking to assess their current values! For those workshops, I use a slightly modified version of this process to help you reflect on what's still serving you, along with identifying any new values.
You mentioned teams up top. Is this also a good workshop for internal teams?
Absolutely! Internal teams often build their own mini-cultures within the organization. Setting team values is a fantastic way to get everyone on the same page, increase communication, and just have some quality bonding time.
Why wouldn’t we just write our own values?
You certainly can - but they usually end up as a bunch of aspirational phrases rather than a truly foundational base for your employees. This workshop is designed to unearth the values you already live by and those you aspire to. Working with a facilitator will help ensure you get the most out of the time you invest together. Not to mention, I tell really great jokes!