I admit it. I like buying stuff on Amazon.
It’s easy. I don’t have to drive to the store.
I don’t have to fight crowds, and in two days, the stuff shows up at my door.
It’s wonderful!
Recently, my husband and I took a trip to The Container Store because we bought new bedroom furniture and we need to buy some small containers to better organizer some things in the dresser drawers. I don’t like it when my socks are all over the place. Dress socks go on one side, and athletic socks go on the other. (It’s just the way I’m wired…LOL)
I give people who work retail a lot of credit. After all, they have to deal with a lot of customers, and their purpose is to make them happy. Give them what they want, and make it a pleasant shopping experience, because it’s easier to buy things online. However, for this stuff, I wanted to see it, touch it, and make sure it was going to be what we needed. Thus, we were off to the store.
We got to the store, and everything was easy to find. There were plenty of associates there to help us if we needed it. And while we didn’t necessarily need any help, I did enjoy watching the associates interact with other customers. They seemed happy doing their job. When we purchased our stuff, the associate told us of some loyalty programs we might find interesting, rang us up, and we were on our way.
Here’s a picture of my sock drawer. (YAY!)
As you know, I am fascinated about how people “show up” professionally and energetically. So, when we got home, I researched the company’s culture and core values on their website. They list seven foundation principles which are the center of their training program.
The one foundation principle that stood out for me was their first one. One great person equals three good people. Take a look at their 98-second video here. They say that this foundation principle is the backbone of their hiring philosophy and their employee-first culture. It’s about how they show up and establish expectations for what it means to be on their team and serve their customers.
When you are looking to create your next advancement opportunity, what does it mean to ensure that you are the right “fit” for the company? I conduct a workshop focusing on individual and team core values. There were many layers to the workshop, but the crux of the activity is to identify one’s individual core values, why they are important to them, and how they demonstrate their core values in their work. From here, we start exploring what team core values look like. You could work with someone for years and never know what their core values are, and why they are important to them. Honestly, these are conversations we don’t have with our colleagues. For some reason, we either take them for granted or we think they are too “soft” and the conversation isn’t necessary.
I’m here to tell you that this conversation is ESSENTIAL.
Whenever I talk about core values, someone asks me what mine are for my coaching practice and why they are important to me. After all, if I’m asking people to do that in the workshop seems only fair they ask me about mine. So, here we go.
I have three core values that are paramount to me and my business.
My first core value is service. I started my coaching practice as a way to serve more people than I could have done in my previous organization. Coaching is a service-oriented profession, and it’s a robust relationship between coach and client designed to help the client reach their optimal goals. I have always worked in service-oriented professions, and this was a natural core value for me and my business.
My second core value is trust. I can’t begin to tell you how strongly I believe that trust is the center of everything. Without trust, we have fractured relationships, strained business relationships, and hesitation to connect with other people. It’s crucial that I earn my clients trust to help them achieve their professional and personal goals.
Lastly, but certainly not least, my third core value is about connection. For me, the connection is about building a relationship, providing value, and being professional with everyone who connects with me on some level. Whether you read my emails, watch my Facebook Live shows, hear me speak, or inquire about hiring me as their coach we are connecting. That’s why connection, along with service and trust, are my core values.
As you think about your core values and how they manifest in the workplace, I invite you to have a conversation with someone you trust about what your core values are, why they are important to you, and how they “show up” for you. Let them know that you have been thinking about your core values and wanted to have a conversation about it. Ask them about their core values and why they are important to them.
Email me and let me know if you have that conversation and what your takeaways are from that conversation. I’m curious to see if you have any significant insights and what that means to you.