Core Values & the Motives Behind Your Motives

In his book, Lead with a Story, Paul Smith shares of a new CEO for a grocery/department store chain. Upon taking the helm of the company, the new CEO began implementing practices that demonstrated the company’s core values. One value was “The Customer Always Comes First.” The CEO sent out an edict that all store management personnel were to park at the farthest point in the lot from the front doors of the store. The customers should never park beyond where the management parked. The idea was employees would follow suit. Apparently, this had not been the practice at most of the company stores.

The employees of one store were watching for the new CEO’s arrival for a scheduled visit. It was raining hard on this particular day. They watched as they saw the CEO’s car pull into the parking lot driving around in the torrential downpour. The CEO had a decision to make. Surely, he had a valid excuse. After all, one parking space certainly would not matter in this rain, for a half hour visit.

The employees watched as his car pulled in, drove around, then headed straight to the back of the lot, farthest away from the door. A couple minutes later the employees watched a man in a very expensive suit running across the parking lot, enter the store completely drenched. He purchased an ill-fitting suit off the rack to replace his expensive tailor made one and continued his visit.

For this CEO there was no decision to be made – or at least it was an easy, “no brainer” decision. He set the standard and lived by example. And, in doing so, he taught a valuable lesson that circulated throughout that company for years and is still being circulated today as it is retold in organizations and stories like this one you are reading today.  And all for the price of one suit.

Values are not something to compromise. In fact, every action you take and every word you speak are outward manifestations of your core values. That’s right. The way you treat people. Whether or not you smile at those you meet. The places you visit, your shopping practices, your eating habits. Everything you do is rooted in those beliefs you hold so dear – your core values.

To reach your full potential as a person, determine what your core values are. Core Values are not that difficult to determine. Ask yourself these questions:

1)      What causes me to act and respond the way I do?

2)      Why do I treat certain people differently?

3)      What am I passionate about?

4)      How do I desire others to see & think of me?

5)      What is the motive behind the motive for each of the answers to the above questions?

The fifth question is critical after answering the others. I might say I give to a particular organization because I want to help people. That would be my stated motive for doing so. However, there is a motive behind that motive. And it many times has to do with “feeling good about myself.”

Why not take time to discover your core values? Be certain to include an honest, thorough examination of the motive behind your motives.  

For more information or assistance with determining core values for yourself or your organization contact George Yates and visit SonC.A.R.E. Ministries. It would be my pleasure to assist you. – It’s one of my core values!