Tips on Values

How do you find a company that matches your values?

Coach Julie at www.roadspring.com would like to encourage you a to find a company where the culture matches your personal values.  This extra step in the transition process can make all the difference in the world for your career path, success and happiness.  When you work in a corporate culture that matches your values, you have a chance at a new beginning.   This is because an environment that harmonizes with you and your goals is an environment that will feel safe and supportive.  When you feel safe and supported, you are more open, more trusting and more trusted.  And more likely to be recognized for who you really are.

What is the importance of Values?

It’s easy to take the first job that comes along.  Who doesn’t want to get a job right away? But therein lies the rub: While it’s easy to hop onto the next job that comes along, what if the corporate culture, the management style and the values are not a match for you?   How will this impact your comfort level, your prospects for advancement and your tenure at this company?  The key thing to remember is that Value Mismatches lead to communication disconnects, misunderstandings, and a sense of being left out of the information flow.  On the other hand, when there is a match, you feel more secure, content, relaxed and friendly.  Your stress level goes down and you build rapport with peers, managers, and directors.

This makes it more likely you will stay at this company and even have a chance for advancement.  When people share the same values, they can relax with each other and be more authentic.  This builds long-term trust and commitment.

The secret to making a Value Match with your employer is to find out what their culture is really like.  For that you need to ask some specific in-depth questions.

How do you talk about Values?

Talking about Values is not a typical conversation; and therefore you need to take the initiative in framing and discussing the topic.  What you want to find out is:

What kind of Corporate Culture?  (Structured or flexible, stable or turnover, professional or seat of the pants….)

What is the general Management Style? (More authoritarian or more collaborative)

What is the Revenue Growth? (Are they going out of business or doing well)

How do they plan to achieve this growth? (Quick and dirty or best practices)

Ride your Values to your next Place of Work

Not only will a Values Assessment (of both your values and theirs) improve your mood, productivity and overall enthusiasm, but it will also create a stronger foundation for a career with your employer.  You won’t be going against the grain, but will be going with the flow of things.  This makes it easier to be heard, understood and (most important!) promoted.   To learn more about this or to sign up for a complete Values Assessment, or to receive information on career growth, professional branding, leadership strategies, and tips for rapid career or job change, you are invited to sign in for the Roadspring Values Assessment at this link:

http://roadspring.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Values-Handout.pdf

For more information or coaching on assessment of values, contact Coach Julie at (510) 526-6723 or Julie@roadspring.com.