Adapted from, Be The Best at What Matters Most

Your culture drives your results or your lack of them. Culture is how everyone in your organization behaves with one another and everyone else associated with your group.

You can’t not have a culture. The only question is whether your culture was created by accident or with intention. If you are going to be the best at what matters most, you have to be very intentional about culture.

Your culture is the real-life, everyday version of your values being played out among your people. In terms of culture, the goal is to get everything that matters most in alignment. That means that your stated values are, in fact, the same as the values the people within your organization display each and every day.

If your culture isn’t in alignment, you will fail to reach your potential. When culture isn’t in alignment, your performance is automatically being held back. If your organization values X, Y, and Z, but yet the people in your organization behave and act in a way that opposes X, Y, and Z, then you have a huge problem with alignment and performance. If you do have conflicting values within the organization, then you are most definitely not in alignment. If you are not in alignment, then you are performing at a level far below where you could and should be.

And let’s be clear, culture is what’s approved of and disapproved of. To the extent that you tolerate people in the organization who violate the standards (values) of the culture, you lose the confidence of every other person who strives to uphold the culture.

So what are your organizational values? What behaviors do you expect all of your people to adhere to in order to bring success to your organization? Lastly, do your people know and understand your organizational values?

The 4 CORE VALUES in my program are:

1. Initiative: A commitment to finding ways to be productive without being asked or told. Daily Question: What productive task did I do today without being asked or told?
2. Positive Attitude: A commitment to having an optimistic mindset during obstacles and opportunities. Daily Question: What did I do today to bring a positive, enthusiastic, or encouraging vibe to those around me?
3. Service: A commitment to go above and beyond what is required of me. Daily Question: What did I do today to exceed my own or other’s expectations of me?
4. Relationships: A commitment to connecting with others in a meaningful way. Daily Question: What did I do today to strengthen my connection with others?

I hope this post helps you and your student leaders realize the importance of having shared CORE VALUES that are in alignment with everyone in your program.

Take care,

Stephen

(If you are in need of help defining CORE VALUES and are interested in a weekend Student Leadership Training, please reach out to us at: stephen@fourseasonsofschoolculture.com)