Letters on Integrity Inspiring Ethical Excellence

By Russ Williams

My friend, Greg Arbues, was a successful business professional for many years. Now a pastor, Greg remains a professional leader who champions the messages of trust and integrity. Greg once sent me a thought-provoking article on the value of values in organizations. The article underscored the fact that there is much to be done in American business to take the values statements that hang on boardroom walls and integrate them into the widespread organizational dialogue that enhances accountability, collaboration, initiative, and profitability.

Among the ten essentials for getting value from values, here are six that leaped out at me about how organizations discover that money follows meaning:

• Organizational values find meaning through workforce conversations.

• Values inspire...they point to long-term intentions.

• Principles and statements about why we do our work invoke a higher purpose. In turn, this purpose can become part of the company’s brand and source of competitive differentiation.

• Values guide leadership choice and decisions.

• Values that are constantly discussed with storytelling that promotes consistent, high standards.

“In short, it’s not the words that make a difference; it’s the conversation. People can be more readily relied on to do the right thing and to guide their colleagues to do the same as an organization becomes a community united by shared purpose.” Who drives the values conversation? You know the answer…Leaders of Integrity pursuing their influence for good!

The pursuit of meaning is grounded in the constant exploration of how values find life in the products and services we well.

Mission Integrity Action

Your work as a business leader is to both understand and articulate to those you influence that money follows meaning. The pursuit of meaning is grounded in the constant exploration of how values find life in the products and services we sell. As a leader of influence this week, be aware that with every occasion you bring the values story into the conversations of your work, you elevate the meaning of work…with yourself and those you lead. It’s a task that always remains incomplete and in need of your attention…with daily focus and inspired action.

JOURNEYING WITH YOU... ...INSPIRING ETHICAL EXCELLENCE!

Russ Williams contributes articles on professional growth for readers of California Broker Magazine. He serves as a mentor advisor and offers one-on-one professional consultations based on The Clarity Conversation, a 9-Session Self Renewal Consultation focused on overcoming nagging personal-professional challenges to re-claim personal-professional clarity renewing your influence for good at home, at work, and in the community.