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For many entrepreneurs, their values are what drive the purpose of their business. Whether it’s something as simple as excellent customer service or something more complex like contributing to a particular social cause, these values can set the stage for the company’s mission and goals. But what can you do to ensure they become a part of your business’s overall strategy?
To help, seven members of Young Entrepreneur Council discuss some of the ways they incorporate their personal values and passions into their business strategies as well as the tips they would give other entrepreneurs trying to align their values with their business.
1. Tell Your Customers The Story Behind The Company
People want to know the story behind a company—the “who” and “why” that sets the brand apart from others. Employees and clients alike want to work with a company that feels authentic and holds its values above profits. Finding a few nonnegotiable values and talking about them in your marketing reminds people there is a real person that cares behind the brand. - Rachel Lipson, Blue Balloon Songwriting for Small People
2. Implement Your Team's Feedback
One way we incorporate our values is to listen to the feedback of our team members. A recent example is that we're moving to a four-day workweek because our team brought up the benefits, and we are always looking to improve how we take care of each other as a team. That value is core to our culture and it's not always obvious how we implement it, but this was a key way to live the value. - Nathalie Lussier, AccessAlly
3. Host A Values Workshop
Your business, though a reflection of you as a founder, must grow beyond just you. Hold a values workshop with your team to identify your collective "why" and the driving forces behind it. This provides a forum to unify your team’s personal values and determine your principles as a team. Getting your team's buy-in will make it easier to integrate these values into all parts of your business. - Daria Gonzalez, Wunderdogs
4. Let Your Values Guide Your Decisions
When we have a problem that's hard to resolve, we use our company values as our North Star. For example, our website was down for two weeks before we caught wind. When we reached out to customers later than they expected, we used our value of integrity to explain the mistake and own up to our tech issues rather than hope they didn't notice. Our other values include efficiency, tenacity and compassion. - Givelle Lamano, Lamano Law Office
5. Collaborate With Stakeholders Who Share The Same Values
You can align your personal values and passions with your business strategy by collaborating with stakeholders who share the same values and by clearly communicating them with the rest of your team. This fosters synergy, ensures that everyone is on the same page and helps create a dynamic work culture encompassing shared values that drive your business strategy. - Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
6. Use A Mission Statement As A Starting Point For Strategy
Create a mission statement that outlines what you stand for and how you want to impact the world. For other entrepreneurs, I suggest reflecting on what matters most to them, both professionally and personally, and using this as a starting point when developing their business strategy. Understanding their values and passions can create a more meaningful brand that resonates with customers. - Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
7. Create A Unified Branding Message
I clearly define what my company stands for in the delivery of service to reflect my core values. For entrepreneurs, create a unified message throughout your marketing front—from website design to social media to ad campaigns—so that potential customers see the same message and experience your personality consistently. Soon enough, they will associate this with your brand. - Tonika Bruce, Lead Nicely, Inc.
