Ditch the Posters: It's Time to Practice What We Value

Have you ever gathered your team to discuss your top values and found yourselves echoing terms like “open communication” or “transparency”? These phrases sound impressive, and it’s all too easy to nod in agreement, maybe even create some catchy posters, only to see those principles shelved and forgotten. This is a common scenario in many organizations.

However, effective teams don’t just stop at buzzwords. They recognize that true value comes from understanding what these terms really mean—and importantly, what they don’t. They engage in this deep dive because aligning these definitions with daily actions and interactions is crucial. This thorough reflection is key to moving everyone in the same direction and ensuring that the team’s stated values are actively lived, not just verbally endorsed.

Observations and notes from these sessions offer insights into where the team stands in its journey. This flip chart serves as a narrative of how values influence actions and, in turn, how actions either reinforce or challenge these values. The interplay between stated ideals and actual behavior lays the groundwork for genuine change and progress.

The challenge for this particular leadership team is to act in ways that make their core values clearly visible to everyone—not just as words on a flip chart but as observable practices. The dots scattered across the chart aren’t random; they visually represent whether the team is truly embodying its values or merely paying lip service. Time and subsequent reflections will reveal more.

So, what do you think this flip chart is telling us?

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