This is one of my favorite parts of our coaching program, core values! When we start our business it is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, making money, setting up a website, finding new clients. All of those ‘business’ things. We forget about our core values.
What if we reversed the order of how we start a business, if we started at square one, what do you believe in? If you think about it your core values are what has shaped you as a person. Phrases or words that your parents or family has been telling you for years, it’s the foundation of who you are and your belief system.
We need to do the same thing with our businesses. Set that foundation, what will our business look like, feel like and stand for? Your core values start with your WHY.
- Why did you want to start this business?
- Who are you wanting to serve?
- What’s Your Story?
There are a lot of successful business owners that would say they wish they would have started with their core values from the beginning, a lot of them didn’t develop or even think of their company’s core values until later on in business, like years later!
We are wanting to save you some time down the road by talking about your businesses core values now!
Setting the foundation and creating the content. By having these core values in place it helps you and your company make decisions based on shared values. Everything from hiring the right help, to bringing on new clients, creating a successful partnership, etc.
In this blog we will be covering the following topics:
- What are Core Values
- Why they are important
- How to Share Your Core Values
What are Core Values?
Core Values are the base of your belief system. They are your morals, what is important to you each and every day. The reason behind what you do.
These core values create your vision and mission for your business and shape its future. In a sense, your core values create your businesses identity.
It is important to establish strong core values from the beginning.
- Your core values help with the decision-making process like I mentioned above this can be from hiring the right help, onboarding the right clients, quality of your products or services.
- These core values educate your employees and clients on what your business is all about. What’s important to you and how you are different. It goes back to that golden rule “People do business with people they know, like, and trust.” That’s why core values are important.
Creating your core values can be a little more challenging than you think. Especially if it is more than yourself. If you have a business partner or team then we recommend having a conversation about what is important to each of you and how you can bring your individual core values into the business.
We talk a lot about creating your lifestyle, What does that look like? What defines success for you? What is important to you?
When you are using your core values in decision making you want to maintain that sense of integrity, clarity, and confidence. You want to stand behind your business core values and know what’s right.
Here are a few examples of different words that can be turned into core values.
Determining your core values takes some time and thought. Remember you are setting the foundation for your business success. You want to create your own values for your business.
I think it is important to check out other businesses values and see how they word them, but you are not just copying and pasting them for yourself.
Here are a few questions to think about when creating your core values
- What makes you feel good about your business?
- What is important to you on a daily basis?
- What values make you feel proud of yourself and your business?
- What sets you aside from other businesses?
Here are a few examples of core values:
The Honest Company
- Create a Culture of Honesty
- Make Beauty
- Outperform
- Service Matters
- Sustain Life
- Be Accessible
- Pay it Forward
- Fun!
SquareSpace
- Be your own customer
- Empower individuals
- Design is not a luxury
- Good work takes time
- Optimize towards ideals
- Simplify
Zappos
- Deliver WOW Through Service
- Embrace and Drive Change
- Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
- Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
- Pursue Growth and Learning
- Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
- Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
- Do More With Less
- Be Passionate and Determined
- Be Humble
More examples here
Once you have your core values defines it is crucial you have them listed on your website within the About page, on your marketing materials, your story, your social media, on your wall. These are great daily reminders for WHY you do what you do.
Why are Core Values Important to Your Business?
There are many reasons why it is important to have core values in your business. As a business owner or freelancer, we are our business. It shows our authenticity of who we are as a person.
Core values provide us the framework of how we see our business and how we want it to grow. It also helps with behavior for your employees and clients, setting those standards from the beginning.
This shows your business, clients, and potential clients why you are different, what you believe in and how those values play a role in your everyday decision making. People that have similar values will more likely want to work for you or do business with you. It gives them a sense of trust to help them understand your business on a deeper level.
Remember in the beginning I asked you what success looked like for you? These core values can help define that success for your business. Set standards and thrive!
How to Share Your Core Values
Now that you have created your core values for your business and you now understand why they are so important to your business, it’s time to put them to work.
Think of your core values almost as a vision board for your business. It helps you find the direction in which you are wanting to continue to grow in. Top of mind!
Here are a few ideas that will help you stay true to your business’s core values:
- Write them down. Put them where you can see them every day. Like a daily affirmation. You can create a sticky note that you have on your computer, screen saver, go to the about page of your site every day, somewhere you look at on a daily basis.
- Share them. You will have them on your website, social media profiles, maybe even your marketing materials, but more importantly, talk about them. Use them in your networking commercials, tell friends, turn them into social media posts. People do business with people they know, like, and trust, these core values will build that trust. So, get sharing!
- Let them be your foundation. These core values are what drives us and motivate us. They remind us of WHY we started our business and where we want to go. They will help us with the decision making within the business. They also keep us consistent. What feels right? They keep us on track!
- Lifestyle. This is probably the most important to me, our core values are what allow me to live the life I want. To create the lifestyle that has freedom and flexibility. How do you want to create your life? What is important to you. The core values of your business will allow you to create your the opportunity to express yourself and create your lifestyle.
- Apply them. Use these core values as ways to connect with different clients or potential clients. Make sure each decision is based on these core values. When onboarding a new client, does it feel right, do their values align with yours? Use them when you are hiring on new help or even outsourcing, as long as your core values are aligned with your tribe, the people you surround yourself with and work with you can accomplish anything!
In Conclusion.
Each business should have a list of core values, your core values are what makes your business run. What type of people you want to hire, or work with. This is the foundation of your business. Are you ready to create your today?
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