Say Cheese + No Assholes

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What It’s About: I promised readers a deeper dive into my IcE10 system for creating extraordinary and adaptive cultures. Last week, I wrote about inspiring purpose and stories, and this week we look a little more into how modern organizations are applying values to really help drive their cultures. Please read through the following samples from three companies, and imagine if you were joining or working within these firms. How might you live with these on a daily basis?

Unreasonable Group:

We > I: We stand on a belief that the world’s greatest challenges will never be solved by one person, one team, or one company. We believe in pathological collaboration and strive to turn competitors into partners. Within our own team and community, we always assume good intentions and when circumstances demand it, we are committed to going through hell or high water for each other.

No Assholes: Our greatest asset, the global Unreasonable community, thrives implicitly on kindness and generosity at its foundation. We seek out team members, partners, investors, entrepreneurs, collaborators and mentors who choose humility over arrogance, assume good intentions amongst one another, and though we will have many differences of belief and perspective, always treat one another with respect. Though we are a community where creative and social misfits seek refuge, assholes will find no home at Unreasonable. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Family and Health First: We know it’s ironic that this value is last on the list, but there is nothing more important. Your family and health are always prioritized. If you are sick, if someone is getting married, if there is an urgent family need, we will insist you drop everything and take care of your family and your health above all else.

Note: These are just part of their declared values. Please read Unreasonale’s full manifesto. It is inspiring and informative.

Quontic Bank:

Say Cheese.

Be positive, smile, and encourage others.

Try It On!

Be adaptive, open to new ideas, and unafraid to embrace change.

Progress Not Perfection

Progress is what matters – don’t let a desire for perfection prevent progress.

Know the Goal

Be intentional to understand what the needed outcome is – measure and beat it.

Explorance:

Think customers, always.

Be growth-obsessed.

Innovate, there’s always a better way.

Do right, no matter what.

Stay true to yourself.

So What?: I’ve been around all of these companies, and know they deeply believe in their stated values. They ALL have great cultures. None of these companies are perfect, of course. However, by being very intentional in living their values DAILY, it adds so much clarity. They do not simply throw out the words. They create story, and narrative around each. The values come off the walls into ALL aspects of the business. And each of the companies’ purpose and values go hand in glove.

Now What?: Too many organizations are culture lazy. They just don’t want to do the work to capture the aspirational values in unique ways, that differentiates them. Hence, throw away, standard values like “integrity,” “communication,” “honesty,” often end up as empty BLAH. Put them on coffee cups, and no one cares. If you want values to be meaningful, then do the work to determine what behavioral combination is vital to your organization. After that, the real work begins. Making them part of the everyday for ALL.

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now,

- Lorne

One Millennial View: When it comes to goal achievement, consistency is one of the most important elements that seems to transcend industries. You can wear a t-shirt that says “rise and grind,” but that does not mean you do it. Same goes with values. If you’re not intentionally practicing them on a daily basis, then they’re just words on a cheap Etsy shirt, or on the walls of your organization.

- Garrett

Edited and published by Garrett Rubis.

Say Cheese + No Assholes

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