This featured article is brought to you by: Danielle Levy, Business Growth Strategist & Coach

You probably hear a lot of chatter about values. It’s a popular topic. Most CEOs generally accept that leading with your values is important. But before you roll your eyes, consider whether you’re actually doing so.

Few companies do, and if I had to guess, neither do you.

It’s the rare company that walks the walk AND talks the talk. As leaders, you may assume everyone knows your values, but they’re often not reflected in your team or your business operations.

Operationalizing your values is crucial because your values impact EVERY aspect of your business, from hiring to sales and everything in between. More on that in just a moment.

First… What are Company Values? 

Your values are the beliefs and principles that define your company’s decision-making and culture.

Examples of company values include: integrity, innovation, teamwork, diversity, inclusion, environmental responsibility, customer-centric, and more.

As you look over that list, do any companies spring to mind?

One I think of immediately is Patagonia. From the beginning, their core value has been environmental responsibility. On their website right now, you’ll see their mission reflected in this statement, “For our 50th year, we’re looking forward, not back, to life on Earth. Together, we can prioritize purpose over profit and protect this wondrous planet, our only home.”

With active campaigns to protect the ocean, spearhead climate change, and promote environmental justice, their values are MORE than just a catchphrase. 

Why DO Values Matter?

Values have a significant impact on your company. When you know and effectively communicate your values, you are able to create a more cohesive team that ALSO believes in your values.

For example, imagine you’re hiring, and you decide to promote your company as having a great work-life balance. But the reality is that you expect late hours and demand fast turnaround times, even over the weekend.

Not only does this create a confusing dynamic for your team, but it doesn’t make you look particularly credible either.

Values are crucial because they affect every aspect of your business, from your business strategy to your culture to your marketing and sales.

So, How Do You Operationalize Company Values?

To put it simply, it comes down to communication and consistency. 

1. As a leader, you MUST clearly understand your company’s values. Write them down, define them, and integrate them into your policies. Values will drive company behavior, so have a clear understanding of the behaviors that follow each value. If you want to be very clear, you should outline examples and hypotheticals. 
2. Next, communicate those values. This happens in every touchpoint, from job descriptions and employee agreements to marketing and internal and external communications, customer services, and more. Everyone on your team must know the values when representing the company.
3. Consistency is key. More than including your company values on your website or employee handbook is required. It needs to be part of every aspect of your business, whether business strategy, culture, marketing, sales, or more. 

According to research, 75% of executives believe they have defined and communicated their values. The reality is only 33% of their team agrees.

It takes commitment from everyone to ensure consistent delivery of those values.

WHY Does Operationalizing Your Values Lead to Sales?

This brings me back to my original point.

As I stated earlier, operationalizing your values affects every aspect of your business. If you define your values, communicate them, and integrate them into the very backbone of your company, then every aspect of your business will benefit… including SALES!

Let’s put it simply – people are quicker to pay someone if they feel like they “get” them. If they feel like you ARE who you say you are and your company does what it says it does. And guess where that comes from? Effectively communicating your values at EVERY touchpoint.

Here’s how it supports more sales: 

• Your team will be happier – and more productive – because they have joined a company whose values they share.

• You’ll gain your clients’ trust because they share your values.

• Your marketing team will be more successful because they understand how to communicate your values.

• Your sales team will benefit because they’ll establish more authentic and meaningful connections and relationships. 

And of course… YOU will benefit from more productive decision-making. With your values to guide you, decisions will be based on principles and company priorities. This leads to greater confidence and less confusion or indecision.

In short, when you operationalize your values, your team knows and understands their decision-making criteria, which allows them to work confidently, efficiently, and in alignment while minimizing bottlenecks.

Have you made your values part of your culture, decision-making, marketing, sales, and customer experiences? If the answer is no to any of these questions, a business strategist (like me) can show you how to operationalize them.

Wondering how you would benefit by leading with values? Not sure what your values ARE? I can help! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and visit my website for more information.

This featured article is brought to you by: Danielle Levy, Business Growth Strategist & Coach

Danielle Levy is a sought-after business consultant who helps business owners expand with clarity and efficiency. Danielle is also the Founder and CEO of The Boardroom League™, a team of experts providing holistic business consulting and implementation services for entrepreneurs. She holds an MBA, is certified as a Project Management Professional, and is a FG Certified Master Marketer.

Danielle has 15 years of agency experience, helping her bring a unique perspective to all of her clients. A problem solver at heart, she believes in helping business owners go from Chief of Everything Officer to Chief Executive Officer, so they can focus on their vision, instead of being distracted by day-to-day business obligations. By establishing solid business foundations and implementing streamlined systems, Danielle’s clients are not only able to regain their freedom but also rediscover the joy of running their businesses.

In 2021, Danielle founded The Boardroom League™ to guide executives turned business owners through current challenges and future advancements by providing bespoke business consulting and implementation. The Boardroom League takes a phased approach to business consulting, offering expertise in a variety of areas; including business leadership, financial guidance, legal advisory, marketing, and more. 

In her personal life, Danielle is an energetic mother of two boys, who understands the balance of being both a hockey Mom AND a successful entrepreneur.

>>>>>> Grab Danielle’s FREE Solo to CEO System here. This free system helps you find and hire the right team members – as easy as copy + paste. It’s a complete bundle of all the tools and resources you need to find the clarity you need for bringing that perfect go-to team together!

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