“Socialize” Your Core Values

I’ve noticed something in common with my super high-speed clients, the ones who really “get it”, apply EOS®, and who go all in. They’re the ones who breathe their core values and have AMAZING cultures that win them multiple ‘Best Place to Work Awards’.

They all do an above-average job at socializing their core values, internally, and externally. Above all, they live them… like REALLY live them.

What do I mean by socializing core values?

• Displaying them publicly
• Getting them out to everyone more often than just at the quarterly
• Rewarding and recognizing those who are living the core values
• Coming up with creative ways to keep the core values front and center

Now, you can say all you want about being a great company – even if you stand out amongst your peers. But it’s usually very difficult to convey just how cool your company is culturally and operationally after implementing EOS.

I know how solid a company has to be in order to operate at over 80% healthy on the Organizational Checkup®. But how well does the rest of the world that may never have heard of EOS know that?

Enter The Third-Party Endorsement

Early on in my EOS Implementer® career, I wanted a way to validate the work that my clients and I did together. I wanted to make it much easier for my clients and their employees to be properly recognized for their dramatic business transformation. I was set on making it clear to everyone that my clients are indeed special in a world where lots of people claim to be special without meriting it.

So, since my very first client, I’ve asked each one if they would like to “go for the hardware,” so to speak. Not all of them have wanted to, and that’s fine. But the majority have, so if you’re interested, this is how you might want to go about it:

1. As a goal for your 3-Year Picture™ we write in: “Win a ‘Best Place to Work Award’”
2. Then on the 1-Year Plan, we write: “Apply for two ‘Best Place to Work Awards’”
3. After that, we assign accountability to one of the leaders — usually whoever has the ‘People Seat’ in the organization — to take care of all the application logistics

The process usually involves an in-depth employee survey where your business is compared to others in your category. Basically, your employees have to be pretty darn happy with your culture and the business needs to be really performing well to be in the running for a win.

The main benefit of winning is the recognition that your business was stacked up against many others like it and that it’s one of the best in your market. That not only makes customers and clients take notice – separating you from the herd – but more importantly, your current employees will feel great about their contribution and future superstar employees will be magnetically attracted to your company.

Three Great Examples of Core Value Socialization:

Arvada Rent-Alls
Industry Culture Award 2020

Visionary Andrew Heesacker and his leadership team had a great idea for a 2020 year-end thanks to all of their employees: a collaboration with local brewer Andrew had a personal message to his employees on the cans along with the company’s Core Focus™ and core values listed.

Johnstone Supply New Mexico (Store 38)
2020 Great Place to Work Award

They got everyone on board by putting the core values on high-use everyday items. Everyone gets a personalized thermal mug, a mouse pad for their computer, and large, color-framed core value graphics for their work area. These graphics also include their purpose statement and their niche for additional context of “Who” they are.

LPR Construction
Denver Post 2018 and 2019 Best Place to Work Award

You’ll find LPR Construction’s core values posted all over the place in their Loveland, Colorado office and at remote construction site locations around the nation. Every office has a framed core values poster as well as being printed in very large letters on their overhead door so everyone can see them. LPR is very active in their community, so when their founder, Rocky Turner (now in the owner’s box), was the grand marshall of a local parade, they were able to share their core values with everyone.

Those are three quick examples of how you can socialize your powerful core values into full adoption by your team. When they are all-in, there is no limit to what you can achieve together!

Next Steps:

• Watch Mark O’Donnell describe the 8 Questions Your Leadership Team Should Answer to help you clarify your company vision
• Download a copy of the EOS V/TO™ to help you clarify, simplify, and achieve your vision
• Download a free chapter of Traction by Gino Wickman