Core Values: Practicing What We Preach
As an intellectually curious person who values personal growth and development, building and managing a wealth management firm has been a significant refining process for me, both as an individual and in team settings. I think of the process as a sort of paint canvas that can be used to highlight strengths and work through areas needing improvement. While I could choose to accept or even ignore weaknesses, I consistently step into and work on them instead.
Over the past six months, my team and I have discovered the power of aligning our business strategy with our core values.
In essence, that alignment begins by answering this question:
What do we believe in?
Highland's Core Values
What an incredibly fun and rewarding process for all of us! Although we had previously developed a value statement, it was filled with the practical and emotionless values that are a part of virtually every company: it listed things like communication, integrity, and initiative. No one on our team could remember more than one of the five or six on the list when asked.
This was a problem.
Yes, the “standard” values of good business are important and a central part of our culture, but they do not define who we are, they do not give us clear direction, and they do not create energy. Our unique core values are the source of our identity and all that we do.
Understanding what you believe in will:
- Unlock an amazing amount of energy and focus
- Provide a critical lens for decision making
- Attract opportunities (and people) to you with similar values
- Have the power to repel opportunities (and people) that don’t align with you and your purpose
- Allow for the alignment of your values to your life and increased fulfillment
Do your values give you a clear direction?
Related Posts
3 Responses to “Core Values: Practicing What We Preach”
-
April 13th, 2010 at 5:56 am
Doug Davidoff Says:Great post John. Knowing you and the firm I see the values in what you do. While it’s often overlooked, identifying and understanding what your real values (as opposed to what I call “apple pie” values) is critical to being able to take clear, confident and effective action.
-
April 22nd, 2010 at 1:03 am
Rosie Perera Says:Great values. And you really live them.
-
April 23rd, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Wealth Management: Four Seasons Style | The Wealth Clarity Blog Says:[...] We just went through a fascinating core values process answering the question: What do we believe in? [...]
