Everyone in the world holds a set of values that they try to live by as they go through life. Some people value loyalty and respect, others integrity and leadership, still others family and generosity. Individual people can hold their own personal principles, but many companies also possess a specific, carefully chosen collection of standards they expect their employees to uphold throughout all of their work, their conduct, and their attitudes.
At Humanus, our work is driven by a set of twenty-seven shared values that inform everything we do, everything we say, and everything we strive to be. These are a few favorites among to the Humanus team:
#7 – MAKE QUALITY PERSONAL
If it has your name on it, you own it. Make that personal. What you do is a reflection of who you are. Take pride in the quality of everything you touch and everything you do.
I love this because quality is such an essential aspect of our business. In the work we do, there are always goals and metrics to meet, and it’s critical to always focus on the quality of our work and the quality of the conversations we have, because that all contributes to the quality of our sustained results and work as a company. We want to provide excellent staffing to our partner schools. Quality lasts over time. That’s what it’s all about – building things that last.
– Priscilla W.
#9 – CREATE A TONE OF FRIENDLINESS AND WARMTH
Every conversation, phone call, e-mail, letter, and even voicemail, set a tone and create a feeling. Pay attention to every interaction and be sure you’re setting a tone of friendliness, warmth, and helpfulness.
This is my favorite because it applies to everything, every day and everywhere. You never know what someone is going through; a simple act of kindness can make a significant difference in someone’s day, whether it’s a colleague, a friend, or a stranger. Being friendly and kind is an effortless way to make the world a brighter and more compassionate place to live in.
– Carol G.
#27 – ASSUME POSITIVE INTENT
Work from the assumption that people are good, fair, and honest, and that the intent behind their actions is positive. Set aside your own judgments and preconceived notions. Give people the benefit of the doubt.
I think in this fast-paced world we live in, people are quick to judge. They often live their life based solely on past experiences and don’t take the time to truly believe that others have good intentions and are actually good people. If you take the time to assume the best, you may find that someone lives in a poor neighborhood, for example, because they have spent their life caring for others or have not focused on wealth.
– Tom G.
The same can hold true if you base someone’s ability to think, reason, or make decisions on the degree they have or the letters behind their name. I’ve often found that some people make better decisions and prosper faster with only “street smarts” and a willingness to learn.