Our Priorities Reveal our Values

It has been said that values are the standards by which we set our priorities.  This means we can understand the values of a person or an organization by examining their priorities.

I listened to a presentation given by top executives of a large firm recently. In their presentation, they listed the company’s priorities:

1.     Top line growth

2.     Enhance shareholder value

3.     Focus on global expansion

4.     Enhance customer satisfaction

5.     Our people

I think it’s safe to say, they don’t really value their people. Or at least they don’t put their people before growth. Ironically, the best organizations I’ve ever seen, the ones that are actually more profitable for the long-term, all put people before growth on their list of priorities.

As Lou Gerstner, the man who reinvented IBM, said, "culture is not an aspect of the game. Culture is the game."

So what of other priorities?

If a company says shareholder value is their main priority how do they value customers?

If an executive has their Blackberry at their kid’s ballgame because work it still a priority, then how much does he value the fleeting time he has to watch his kids grow up?

If the urgent always takes priority over the important, then how much do we value the important over the urgent?

If indeed we value things that we are not prioritizing or prioritizing things we do not value as much, then perhaps it is time to realign our priorities. If we value those kinds of things...

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Comments

[swarovski sale]

There are a lot of companies like this. They prioritize growth over people. It's easy to do that when people work for money without a bigger purpose. But hey, majority can't find a bigger purpose than money if their needs are to survive! It's a really big problem, especially, in economically unstable countries. If a priority is to survive, then, what kind of values are we talking about?

[ray ban uk]

I think this is where constantly striving for balance occurs. I do not want to miss anything, that occurs in my family life, and technology allows me to be there, and yet step back into the office for a few minutes, then back to my family. We all have seen the parent that only shows up physically and remains on email or phone calls the entire time... That is NOT my goal.

[lacoste sale]

I sometimes have overlapping values / priorities in my own life, and don't always want to have to choose. I like using technology to help me stay connected to everything that is important to me.

[Gucci Outlet]

Each work comes from a long thought process.

[RevelnConsults]

Yes, this post reminds me of Peter Block's call out back in the 80s, which was ...if most companies are truthful, people are number seven.

Jeffrey Pffefer out of Standford has published many a book with the research and case studies of why lowered people priority is wrong-headed. The sustainability of the people investment really makes the different.

Simon, this is especially quotable: …the best organizations I’ve ever seen, the ones that are actually more profitable for the long-term, all put people before growth on their list of priorities.

[Chad Moore]

Simon,

I truly believe in your method of communicating with the world. I am, however struggling to discover my true WHY. I believe I have a solid framework from which I view my life and business, but am having trouble articulating that to my clients and referral sources. Do you have a method to help me discover my WHY? Please email or point me in the right direction. Thanks, Chad

[Rick Davis]

Bravo Simon, Bravo!

Thanks for being true to your calling, Simon. You are gifted at inspiring others by articulating some pretty sound judgment. Can't argue with this one! In fact I applaud you for this post. Bravo! [whistles, applause]

[Meri Walker]

Simon, your thinking is simply irresistable! Not a day goes by that I don't thank your Mom and Dad for getting you here.

I can't help it. I'm smitten with your mind.
I've got to be close to twice your age and it makes me so happy that you're speaking truth to power all over the place now, too.

Would love to interview you for my blog sometime you're not too busy.

[michael s symonds]

Hi Simon!

Thanx for your continued inspiration and passion in exploring the “Why” of life! I wanted to take a moment and build on your conversation…

I believe a more direct way to asses one’s values system at work or play, that you did speak to in your article, is to simply look at behaviour; our behaviours are the most effective way to assess the authenticity/success/failure of our value system.

To explain; I might say that my priority in life is my family, but if my behaviour shows that they are clearly secondary (because I spend more time at work or socializing), then there is going to be an incongruence and something will suffer.

It is our behaviour that reveals our true value system, regardless of what is said or verbally pointed to or prioritized.
Said differently: if our “values are the standards by which we set our priorities”, our behaviours reveal the degree of congruence or alignment with which those values and priorities are lived (consciously and unconsciously).

We can more easily understand the values (success and failure) of a person or organization by what they do or don’t do. This can be the beauty that lies in the seduction of developing a mission/vision statement; it might clearly suggest a commitment or priority to particular values, but it’s in the actual doing or not doing, that the active values of a particular culture will be revealed.

A company or person might say that there priority is “this” or “that”, but it is their actual behaviour that will confirm or deny the importance of a particular said value, and its priority; and at the end of the day, it is their behaviour that will ultimately determine the success or failure in of what has been valued and prioritized.

[Kelly Foreman]

Hi Simon,

As always I love your perspective. As a full time wife, mother and entrepreneur ... there "is overlap". I strive to always keep the priority balanced in that order ... and there "is overlap". The women that work with me do the same juggle, and we are flexible. The reminder to keep first things first is always good... and then that darn over lap :)

I think this is where constantly striving for balance occurs. I do not want to miss anything, that occurs in my family life, and technology allows me to be there, and yet step back into the office for a few minutes, then back to my family. We all have seen the parent that only shows up physically and remains on email or phone calls the entire time... That is NOT my goal.

It can be tough to do. As always, thank you for your thoughts.

[Kathy Zodiaco]

Hi Simon,

I really like your work and message; thank you for putting it out here in the world!

I wonder - what if the executive made a compromise? What if being at the game AND available for work were both top priorities? What if not having the BB meant he/she would have to be in the office instead of at the game?

I sometimes have overlapping values / priorities in my own life, and don't always want to have to choose. I like using technology to help me stay connected to everything that is important to me.

Thanks again.

[Steen Olsen, soalive.dk]

I agree 100% with you. I usually call it team-focus, but basically it is the same thing. People create successes, products don't - they're merely a measure you use to get to that goal.

[Jesper HorsMark]

Thx Simon for a great article.

I started my People-first-journey viewing your "Start with why" video lot's of times.

It appears to be working and please feel free to visit our mission "peoplefirst" here: http://www.amio.dk

In case you need more info don't hesitate to contact us - we'd bee pleased to give back!

@Marius
Prioriting people over growth needs patience, currage... and money... As soon as any company reaches "enough financials" the real hard part is to switch mindset...

Regards
Jesper HorsMark

[CRS]

One aspect, perhaps, is that money is measurable and people are not.

I worked for a place that had a similar presentation. The #1 goal was to win more market share. After the meeting, I asked a higher-up why we needed more market share, when we were more profitable than ever, and had our only two competitors on the ropes.

The answer: management needs to show some sort of positive numerical movement, of any kind, to justify its continued existence. Forget that we were extremely profitable by nearly every measure, through one of the roughest economies yet. If it isn't on the spreadsheet, it isn't there.

For some reason, the situaton makes me recall one of John Tukey's quotes:

Far better an approximate answer to the right question, which is often vague, than an exact answer to the wrong question, which can always be made precise.

Anyone can manage by excel. It takes a lot of courage to face people.

[Daniele Milan]

Companies should make a simple change: reverse those priorities. If you put people first, everything else shall follow ...

[Marius Skardžius]

There are a lot of companies like this. They prioritize growth over people. It's easy to do that when people work for money without a bigger purpose. But hey, majority can't find a bigger purpose than money if their needs are to survive! It's a really big problem, especially, in economically unstable countries. If a priority is to survive, then, what kind of values are we talking about?
Overall, it's a great article, Simon. You are sharing amazing ideas with us!