As you probably know by now, I’m an HR specialist. I have spent considerable time developing HR capabilities in myself, and in others. During my Human Resources Management Career, I have had the opportunity to be responsible for on-boarding new employees into different companies. These induction sessions are usually 2 days events where new hires (at whatever level) are intimated with the mission, vision, culture and values of the organization. These meetings are so much fun, people remember them much long after.
I remember traveling by air one day, many months after I had left my last employment. One of the Cabin Crew members walked up to me, and told me that the words I spoke during their induction still provided guidance and instruction even though I was long gone. I flashed back, and remembered, one of the topics I enjoyed facilitating the most in these inductions, was and still is core values.
The question goes to you, do you have values? What are your values? I’m sure you are wondering where this is leading, don’t wander, do you have values? What are values? I have heard many definitions of values in my life, but one that beats them all by a clear margin is a definition that is very illustrative.
I usually ask my students a question, I ask a volunteer if she/he would be willing to lick the floor of the training room. The obvious answer I usually get is a blatant No! I ask them to explain and they tell why they can’t do that, “lick the floor? No way!” I pause for a while and I quickly ask another question, “If you lick this floor, I’ll give you a million Naira.” The standard answer to which is, “Are you serious?” One moment it was impossible, another moment it was doable. Not licking the ground is not a value. A value is that quality of character that you will not change irrespective of the price, or circumstances. Your core values are your creed, the define your behaviour, that form the basis for your right or wrong.
So, again do you have core values? Or do you find it easy to bend at the slightest resistance. Are you like a river? Crooked because it’s looking for the easy ways out? You might wonder, what a heck do you need values for? Well, modern research shows that the most successful companies in the world all have core values that are alive, and not just on paper. This, and not strategies or employee quality was clearly a difference in companies that were ranked built to last. Any life that intends to be built to last, needs to have core values – Qualities, attributes, characteristics that will not change with the passing of time, the changing of price or pressure.
Back in the days, many companies realized the value of values, the formulated one (There is a standard process for doing this) and believed in it. They went a step further to document it, and put it in their lobby. Their values were trust, excellence, integrity, care, e.t.c. They saw it everyday, and it affected their behaviours, their culture, their work. It affected them positively! Whenever anybody had to make a decision, he simply looked up, saw integrity, and thought better of that decision. As time went by, because the company did not take time to educate its new joiners about these values, they became hangings on the wall without meaning. Because people saw them on the board so regularly, they could recite them, but the values lost their power to drive culture, behaviour and habits. After a while, seeing that the wall hangings were looking hypocritical, the company took of the values off the walls, taking the company back by 100yrs.
Today, we stand at that point, many of us have no core values let alone documented. Your life will last, and you will leave a legacy, if you build your life around values that are really core to you. Every human being has bones, you were never meant to be all jelly and too flexible, there are turns you must never make. You need to go beyond knowing these values to writing them down. Don’t only write integrity, define what it means to you. It’s hard work I know, but the only alternative to hard work, is hard life. For starters, install Google desktop and write down your values there. Keep it close to your eyes and heart. It’s profound, but life does not transcend from successful to significance without core values.
I have core values too, maybe more than most people or companies, but they guide my life. Here are some of my values, they might help you in writing yours.
1. Integrity – Say what you mean and mean what you say. Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep. Live like you would if you had to share everything you did with people that respect you.
2. Trust – Give people trust before they earn it. Pay it forward in small dozes and graduate it upwards.
3. Respect – Don’t treat people based on what they are, treat them on what they have the potentials to be. Don’t make anyone common because of present circumstances. Treat others like you want to be treated.
4. Passion – Find what you are good at and love doing, and pour your life into it. Don’t go with the flow, follow your heart.
5. Love – Question your motivation to ensure it is love, accept the wrong quickly, apologize profusely, give, share, add value, sacrifice, be kind, express love.
6. Stewardship – Live your life like you are a steward of it, and will give account. Fear God and honour him.
7. Servitude – Always look for opportunities to serve, enjoy thank you, use your talent and passion to help others. Never be too big to render unpaid service.
8. Inside-Out – Order life priorities from inside out.
I hope you find this helpful. Lest I forget, Individual Independence by Emmanuel Utomi is happening tomorrow… I understand a lot of people you want to listen to will be there, Femi Banigbe a Celtel Director will be featured, A few key officers from different companies, and I will be taking a session as well. Don’t miss it!
hm…I have always been of the school of though that one can not succeed beyond his/her core values. Your values either break or make you. The first thing to check if things are not going the way you want is to check what your values are.
This might place a demand on you to adjust your ways but you just have to make up your mind to make the necessary changes. It won’t come easy but if you can keep at it, you will see the result.
Another of life’s lessons learnt today…
Chairman,
Time flies!
I remember you intemated your readers about Emmanuel’s Programme a cuople of weeks ago.
Today the event is just afew hours away.
core values?it got me thinking.i’ve always had them up in my head but have not taken time to write them down and state what it means to me.i think everyone who really wants to live a life of significance should have this not just documented but as a lifestyle.beyond the individual and oganisational level ,as a nation do we actually have core values and do we live by them?
Great Values,
We all need them.
Thank you.
I have suddenly found myself in a blind mental alley and be sure that it’s not for lack of words but because this subjects touches more than the senses can feel.
May we find help to do those things we are supposed to do, though it appears very difficult to do them!
Chairman, we date back long ago and we have shared experiences and core values. It however struck me while reading this piece that I also need to document my core values and principles and put it up in my house like companies do, so that those who know will be reminded while those who dont will know.
One other good reason to do this is that it helps keep one focused and in line on those values. Even God commanded Moses to write the commandments on tablets so that the children of Israel will keep it in remembrance!
This is a good follow-up piece to yesterday’s on volunteering. Preach it from the rooftop, Nigerian youths need to imbibe these for the nation to realise the re-birth we are clamouring for.
You have spoken well. Great food for thought .
….Skill is not everything. Money is not everything. In this ‘cosmos’ there is no limit to what you can achieve only if you have the right values…
There is no denying the fact that a person’s life is an expression of his/her core values. You build your life on the kind of values you expressed, the inner expression of who or what you represent.
Right core values has helped built successful people, organizations, families etc
For anyone to be successful, one must learn to imbibe and inculcate positive core values.
Regard
Michael
The most fulfilling thing for me is that I always get more than I bargain for on this site.
@ Felix: Are u sure you are really learning the lessons or u desire deeper lessons (I can tell u from who to get them).
@ Ibikunle: Is it because you are now in Kano that you have decided to become like one of our Northern friends? Am sure Chairman couldn’t have you, like you said in your comment.
i must say deolu this is really true i have come to learn alot from ur hr skil and am the better for it. i’l really do somthing about this too
Sorry, I goofed in my last comment, my line for Ibikunle should have read
@ Ibikunle: Is it because you are now in Kano that you have decided to become like one of our Northern friends? Am sure Chairman couldn’t have you ‘intemated’ you, like you said in your comment.
One core value here: Dynamic Consistency. The story was told of Lester Sumrall that you don’t have to go and ask him before you know where he stands on any matter.
One must be known for what he stands for, not an inconsistent fellow. I think it actually aligns with Integrity.
You need not watch a man a whole day to know his values. It’s like a magnet that carries its field with it. You always can tell.
@kamal: why am i of particular interest here.
Anyway, i am getting the lesson from who i know has core values
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THANKS FOR THE MOTIVATION
I am suppose to teach my students the part two of what i started with them on the issue of balance. I now know what to say. CORE VALUES
Core values. I believe they are principles that guard our lives. the word guard here could mean restraint, to prevent from. Value should give our lives direction particularly in a world where everybody does anything anyhow. We need to do more than just having them in our head or just writing them down, it has to become our driving force. What we live to prove. What we are known for. I had to work hard even harder to get my values beyond just a piece of document to a life that I live and known for.
We need to do more than just writing good character or principles into living them. The question here is do we compromise our values in the face of a more profiting circumstance or do people say this about us “I know him to well, he would never bend his principles”
It’s only a person with core values, a principled person that becomes great and a reference point in the society. What will be said about me when am long gone? Would my principles still live on to generations after me?
This is my conclusion, discover what you are created to be, set principles that will help you become it, live by those principles even if you have to die by them.
CORE VALUES! Nigeria as a nation, what are our core values?
core values inform our actions to life’s issues. the moment our core values become part and parcel of us, we find it easy to be loyal and true to our nation. not until then we would keep having cases of unfaithfulnes in service and so many others.
rebaranding Nigeria begins with stating our core values and living them on a daily basis. by this they are reflected in our daily pursuits. this alone can change Nigeria for the better. our leaders must hear this, my friends must read this when they come into my room and every where wher i go, the message will be preached.
CORE VALUES………..everywhere you go!
core values are what guides a person in his day to day activities. they are not optional at all. everyone should have it. it helps shapen ones character, making him a berrter individual and in turn builds a better nation. good writeup sir.