Organisational Values
Organisational values guide everything you do at work
- Guide staff behaviour, as well as strategic and operational decisions
- Provide a solid foundation for your employment policies, and “fill the gaps” where policies are silent
- Over time, improve the organisation’s ethical character as expressed in its operations and culture
- Demonstrate integrity and accountability to external stakeholders
- Set the organisation apart from its competitors
- Reduce risk of inappropriate behaviour
- Strengthen the employment value proposition
Every organisation preferences some values over others. A university might value intellectual rigour, independence and the pursuit of knowledge. By comparison, a listed telecommunications company would prefer customer service, network reliability, and profit. For this reason, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all Code of Ethics.
Why define your organisational values and ethics
Employees often rate the company’s “vision, culture and values” as the most important factor in determining how they perceive their employer. Research also indicates that companies which demonstrate a coherent set of ethical principles are more likely to be profitable and stand the test of time.
Having clarity in your values will also help your organisation attract the right people (employees, customers, collaborators) and increase their loyalty, focus, trust and cooperation.
Reviewing and refreshing your organisational values
If your company developed its values 10+ years ago, it might be time for a refresh. As a clue, the old favourites tend to be integrity, teamwork, customer satisfaction and innovation! Also, if they feel like cookie-cutter values statements borrowed from other companies’ websites or picked out of an MBA handbook, then we’d suggest you start from scratch. Values that do not resonate with staff or reflect your company’s culture and aspirations can actually demotivate employees, alienate customers and undermine the credibility of leaders and managers.
Take a minute to consider:
- Are your organisation’s values credible, deeply ingrained principles which guide all of the organisation’s actions?
- Are they fundamental to the company’s culture?
- Do they have an element of aspiration – what we need to be in order to succeed, and what we would like our character to be more like in future?
- Are they specific to your organisation, so that they would ring true to every employee, customer and stakeholder?
Our approach
It needn’t be a massive undertaking to consider and refresh your organisation’s values. At Worklogic, we have worked with Monash University, the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services and other organisations to identify and codify their organisational values.
The process usually involves:
- in-depth discussions with leaders, managers and sometimes other stakeholders that you select (such as union representatives or customers)
- focus groups with employees
- listening to all their views about what your organisation stands for now, and (if anything) what ethical shifts the organisation wants to make in future
- understanding how the company plans to ensure that its culture, performance and employee experience continue to improve
- preparing draft values, based on what your employees and stakeholders tell us
- working collaboratively with senior leaders to refine and finalise the values, and develop an implementation strategy.
Worklogic is a fully- functioning hybrid workplace and can provide services in person or via video conference. Worklogic is compliant with any current public health orders and is committed to prioritising the health and safety of staff and clients.
You can rely on our experience to help you develop organisational values that underpin everything you do at work.
The Worklogic team were respectful, thorough and generous with their time and guidance. I would highly recommend their services, particularly where there is a heightened need for a trusted, independent view. Clear communications and willingness to field a large number of questions from team members contributed to reaching a fulsome outcome at such a challenging time.
Leanne Lawrence
Worklogic helps Australian employers promote positive workplace behaviour and resolve conflict and complaints fairly and respectfully.
Mathias Hermansen
I engaged with Worklogic to provide confidential and professional coaching to a senior staff member. They were approachable, professional and accountable. The staff member reported that they felt they had developed and matured in a supported and structured way that was person centred and appropriate for where they were at.
Chloe Keogh
Worklogic’s combination of professionalism and values make them a compelling and trusted service provider. We have engaged Worklogic for policy development, training and mediation and on all occasions have found them highly effective in achieving a sustainable outcome for Justice Connect and our staff.
Fiona MacLeay
My team recently had the pleasure of participating in an exceptional Workplace Investigation Training program with Worklogic. Jason’s expertise and wealth of experience was obvious. His deep knowledge of workplace dynamics, legal considerations, and investigative techniques created a learning environment that was both engaging and enlightening.
Dane Bates
Worklogic are very professional to deal with and their reports are drafted very concisely and clear. I was very pleased with the Worklogic investigation and would highly recommend them.
Tony Barr
From my first contact with Worklogic I was impressed by their responsiveness and professionalism. They were patient and empathetic in a difficult situation. If I needed this service again, I wouldn’t hesitate to engage Worklogic.
Sue Rolland
The training that Worklogic ran for us on Professional Conduct was informative and engaging. The consultant was very knowledgeable and the team were extremely easy to work with when making arrangements.
Lex Cran
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