Putting The Core Values on Paper

Your business is an organism of sorts. Full of life, opportunity, and most of all… your passion. Discovering the Core Values, putting them down on the paper (and yes, I am aware it will most likely be done electronically) is a crucial part of maintaining brand continuity and consistency amongst employees.

Questions to Reflect On:

Your Company

Whether you’re a one man band or have a 10 person team these answers should be pretty simple. It’s all about YOUR business.

• What do we stand for?
• What do we truly value the most?
• How are we helping our consumer with their needs?

Negative Experiences

Think about all the times something negative has happened at a business in your field. Or heck, just generally.

• How did that experience make you feel?
• What can our company do to ensure that we don’t deliver that same experience to our consumers?

Keepsakes

Your core vision is already out there. You’ve already been implementing it without having it actually written down. This is time to reflect on the ups of business.

• What really works?
• What makes our brand different as it stands right now?

Inspiration

From Amazon to the tire shop down the road we all have people, businesses, and general aesthetics that resonate with our business.

• What companies do we draw inspiration from?
• What do they do that makes them different?

Answer those questions alone or as a team. I would take some time to clear your mind before you dive in. It can give perspective so that you are not reactionary but reflective.

There are a few last things to remember before you list out your core values. Be sure to keep it:

• Powerful
• Universal
• New

You are framing the narrative of the breathing company that is an extension of yourself. The vision is out there. Just grab it.