Over the last several years, there has been increasing chatter about core values. On the surface, this would appear to be a good thing. It may, in fact, prove to be one of the greatest obstacles we face in leaders genuinely embracing core values. You see, chatter stays exactly there … on the surface. My biggest fear is that core values have become the latest widespread veneer.
Veneers are specifically designed to make something look like what it’s not. The surface conceals what something is really made of … to make it look more valuable than it really is. Veneers work well on furniture, but not in organizations. If we discuss core values in only a shallow way, we allow the veneer approach to take hold. This is one of the reasons so many executives in leadership positions don’t embrace core values as their most important resource. They have grown up experiencing values as veneer. When core values are used as a veneer, they can clearly cause more harm than good. A lot more harm.
In your professional journey, have you seen core values treated more often as veneer or genuine, authentic depth? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
I think a person’s core values are signaled by how we spend our time, our money, and our other resources, including energy. No veneer can long survive deep, honest, scrutiny of how we use what we have.
I think people talk about Core Values aspirationally, like culture, what they would like it to be but not what it is today….
I was VP HR at a mid-size company whose parent company had sold to a competitor organization. Our executive group held a retreat at which I facilitated a process to identify the key cultural factors that had kept our company strong & financially viable. Our goal was to share those with all employees (worldwide) & get feedback re: what we were living up to & where we fell short. We carefully considered all reactions & changed some factors as a result. We wanted all employees, those going to the new owner & those displaced, to leave with a sense of worth & being able to hold their heads high. We called these factors, “Ingredients For Excellence; they were in effect “core values”. The proposed sale fell & “life went on” We – from that point forward – took every opportunity to incorporate the “Ingredients” into everyday life – – we truly LIVED these values. On occasions where we slipped, our employees had no problem at all bringing situations to management’s attention – with suggestions for remedies.
I had the Opportunity to work for a company that had a beautifully polished Veneer Finish. The Core Values of the Company were non existent. If they had any, I couldn’t find them. The picture they painted to the Outside World was one of corporate charity. Let’s just say upper management believed that Charity began at Home.
Real Corporate Values for a Corporation start a the Top, and roll down hill.
Hopefully, the Corporate Values stand for something Exceptional. Ex: Giving Back to Communities in times of need. Or to employees who need extra help in their time of need.
Top Managers if they are genuine share the Corporations Values and their personal values with the management team. Hopefully, the Values they share with the team have integrity and are genuine. It is then the job of the management team to share the values with the Rank and File to achieve the stated goal.
Yes, I am aware of the stated goal of any Corporation is to make a Profit. I am all for that, it pays the bills and enables good things to happen like corporate growth. You can do the Right Things and still make a Nice Nickel.
Watch out for those Veneer Finishes, they can bite you in the —!
In the work that I do as an executive coach, I’m lucky–and I would say blessed– to be trusted with people’s genuine, authentic selves and that includes conversations about values!
Some great thoughts on varied experiences showing the depth that is possible and the loss we experience when we live and lead on the surface of the “veneer.” It is precisely why a leader’s investment in digging deep and leading from their depth has such enormous potential in our world today … whether they lead a corporation, a government, a church, a not-for-profit or a family. I look forward to your continuing comments … thank YOU for joining in the conversation.