Embody values for real impact real impact

Recent Blogs

We enter a workplace with a suitcase packed with values, formed and polished by personal experiences, cultural contexts and social norms. These values, whether it’s the emphasis on integrity, diligence, innovation or empathy, act as internal compasses, guiding decision making and behaviour. But in the busyness of project environments, these individual compasses often point in several varying directions.

According to a survey by Deloitte Global Millennial from 2020, values play a significant role in both workplace satisfaction and motivation. About 70% of millennials and Gen Z reported they might leave their job if their company’s values didn’t match their own.

Let’s consider a project team who embodies v disregards their values.

They were developing an innovative graphic design tool. The tool aimed to democratise design, making it accessible to non-designers while maintaining professional quality.

Their project charter outlined the values and principles to guide their delivery.

Inclusivity: create a tool that catered to everyone, not just professional designers.

Innovation: dare to venture where others hadn’t.

Integrity: honest communication with stakeholders and within the team.

Quality: cut no corners to get a top-tier product.

Midway through the project, the team encountered a significant bug that threatened to delay the launch. Despite pressure from investors, they communicated the issue transparently to all stakeholders, explaining the delay and the steps being taken to resolve it. They organised workshops with diverse user groups, collecting feedback to ensure the tool was user-friendly for people with various levels of design expertise.

The Impact:

  • The transparent communication strengthened trust among stakeholders, even amid challenges.
  • The product, when launched, was hailed for its user-centric approach, usability, and innovative features, positioning the company as a leader in the design-tech space.
  • The team, aligned with their values, felt a strong sense of purpose and cohesion, driving engagement and satisfaction.

Imagine if the project team had disregarded its values.

If they had hidden the bug issue and proceeded with the flawed launch, users would encounter problems.

Without considering diverse user needs, the tool might have been too complex for non-designers, limiting its user base.

Potential Impacts:

  • Users, encountering unexpected flaws due to a lack of transparency, may lose trust in the company and its products.
  • Team members, witnessing a breach of proclaimed values, might feel demotivated or disheartened, reducing productivity and potentially leading to talent attrition.
  • The tool, being inaccessible to non-designers, fails in its mission and loses a significant portion of its potential market.

In the real-world dynamics of a project, adhering to values and principles isn’t merely about moral standing but also strategically aligns the product with the target audience and market needs. The project team’s journey illustrates that staying true to values can pave the way for success, while forsaking them can jeopardise customer trust and team cohesion, even potentially leading to product failure. And while reality may contain more complex and nuanced scenarios, the fundamental belief remains that principles and values are pivotal to sustained success and real impact.

—

Here are ten steps for a project team to agree their values and guide their delivery.

Initiation and Awareness

Conduct an initial meeting to discuss the importance of values and principles in project delivery.

Individual Reflection

Encourage team members to list their top values and share personal stories or experiences that highlight these values.

Collective Discovery

Facilitate a workshop or series of meetings where each member shares their values, using storytelling to deepen understanding and empathy.

Consensus Building

Use techniques such as dot voting, ranking, or consensus workshops to narrow down the list of values to those most critical for the team.

Articulation and Documentation

Draft a values statement or charter that clearly outlines the agreed values and principles. Involve everyone in the drafting process to ensure collective ownership.

Integration into Daily Practices

Develop specific behaviours, rituals, or practices that embody these values. Regularly revisit these practices in team meetings or retrospectives to ensure they are being upheld.

Ongoing Reflection and Adaptation

Schedule periodic reflections on the team’s adherence to its values, encouraging open discussion about challenges and adjustments needed to stay aligned with their principles.

Recognition and Celebration

Implement a recognition system where team members can acknowledge each other’s efforts to uphold team values, fostering a culture of appreciation and reinforcement.

Learning from Disregard

Use this as an opportunity for the team to reflect, learn, and realign with their foundational values, emphasising the importance of staying true to their principles even under pressure.

Evolution and Legacy

Capture lessons learned and insights gained about the role of values in project delivery, potentially creating a legacy document or toolkit for future teams.

Download your free guide here.