Often in the corporate world, company values are spoken about. There may even be a list on "Guiding Principles" which outline expected behaviours of particular teams. There is no harm in having them, possibly even some good. However the real value lies in living them, not having them written on a poster in the meeting room.
Having worked in a number of environments and been part of many senior leadership teams, I have seen various versions of company values. Each slightly different, with their own twist. Some have 2 or 3, others have a list of 10. I am not knocking them, but it is sad that we need to have them to explain what good behaviour looks like. One would think, that at a certain stage of life, people should know how to behave. Right?
Anyway, following a conversation with a friend, a friend who has spent time with First Nations folk, she explained that many tribes have four values. They are universal and are spread across many geographies.
When I heard the four, a light when on. Bling! Of course!
That's right, that's all you need. Four. That's all you need either within a family, in the community or in the workplace. So why is it we spend time looking for others, that may seem more pertinent and tailored to us, but really the truth lies in the below four.
Care, Share, respect and teach
I repeat. Care, share, respect and teach
I don't see anything missing.
If all those things were present and everyone was abiding by those four simple principles, life would be just fine. Families would function better, professionals would interact more smoothly and life, well life would be that little bit better.
If we had our disagreements, yet we're respectful and cared about each other, wouldn't that be ok?
If we damaged someone's property or accidentally hurt someone, if we went about repairing the damage with care and respect, wouldn't there be a way to work it out and make things better?
Care, share, respect and teach.
So I think I will begin citing these four simple words, when asked about what place I wish to work and what climate I thrive in.
How simple the truth can be.
Nice!
ReplyDeleteTrue that sometimes the simplest of phrases are the most real and true.
Lauren
Love this!! How true! The simple things are always the best!
ReplyDeleteSuper! Just in time to share with our beloved ones & friends in our Christmas cards! How simple it can be ...
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand isn't it sad that in practice we humans aren't that successfull in living and respecting those 4 basic values... if you look at the war scenes in the news or the violence in the street ... or think of teenagers committing suicide, not respected by their fellow students .... Any way ... change starts small and with yourself ... so let's spread the word and do our best to live up to it ... even when it might not be as easy as it seems ...simple can suddenly become complicated ;-) HH