In a previous post, we highlighted the fact that the values of an organisation were important because they provided us with focus around what we wanted our organisation to be. Enacting these values, with the right people, are critical to ensuring the organisation achieves this focus.
The GIRO Advisory organisational core values are (in no particular order):
- Courageous
- Humble
- Authentic
- Curious
- Empathic
We know them and can readily state them but, most importantly, can describe and explain each consistently. They are meaningful to us because this is how we behave – we have no doubt that every one of our clients would testify that we live these values consistently.
We hope that this quick read on our journey to identify these values may assist you in some way.
Our starting point was working out what we wanted our organisation to stand for – we recommend this for every organisation so that prospective employee alignment is easy for all parties. If a prospective employee is clear on what an organisation stands for and, importantly, knows this organisation lives its values, then the chances of attracting and retaining the “right” employee are significantly enhanced.
Secondly, the values also assist us in working out who we want to partner and/or work with.
And, finally, we were able to determine and describe values that reflected who we were, and what we stood for.
As such, the meaning that we place behind our values that are important for us are:
Courageous We always endeavour to say and do the right thing regardless of ramifications. This includes the ability to make the tough calls even if it is choosing the “least bad option”, instead of leaving these difficult decisions for others.
Humble Our purpose is to make you look good, and this means leaving our egos at the door. We do this by being adaptable to better points of view, with a recognition that we cannot always be right. Importantly, being humble tempers our courageousness appropriately.
Authentic We are authentic by being genuinely interested in you and your business. Our business issue focus comes from a willingness to truly understand your needs, and ensure they match your wants. We invest in relationships, in order to interact at the emotional rather than transactional level. Revenue is always a secondary consideration.
Curious We aspire to be critical thinkers, with an insatiable thirst for not only knowledge but to ensure that advice and direction are provided based on accuracy, not assumptions. We do this through using the enquiry method, so that we ask rather than tell.
Empathic We pride ourselves on our ability to listen, and be non-judgmental. We recognise that people are all moving on their own journeys, within their own environment, and that communication is about how things are received rather than how they are transmitted.
One of the most important things to understand is that these five core values work for us – some may work for you, none may work for you, or all may resonate – it all depends on what your organisation stands for. And it’s very important to note that our definitions for our values may need to be amended to suit your organisation, especially as these apply to the professional services sector.
Although the common saying “An employee leaves a Manager, not an Organisation” may not always be the case, once an employee’s values misalign with an organisation’s values, there is no turning back. Working this out before a prospective employee is brought on saves everybody unnecessary time, effort and angst.
[Please stay tuned for our next update in this series]