Values

Values Framework

Core Values in Practice

1. Customer Obsession

value:
  name: "Customer Obsession"
  principle: "Start with the customer and work backwards"
  behaviors:
    - "Gather customer feedback before making decisions"
    - "Measure impact on customer experience"
    - "Prioritize customer value over internal convenience"
  anti_patterns:
    - "Building features without user research"
    - "Ignoring customer feedback"
    - "Optimizing for internal metrics only"

2. Ownership

value:
  name: "Ownership"
  principle: "Think long term and don't sacrifice long-term value for short-term results"
  behaviors:
    - "Take end-to-end responsibility"
    - "Fix root causes, not symptoms"
    - "Consider future maintenance and scalability"
  anti_patterns:
    - "That's not my problem" mentality
    - "Quick fixes without proper solutions"
    - "Ignoring technical debt"

3. Learn & Be Curious

value:
  name: "Learn & Be Curious"
  principle: "Never stop learning and be open to new ideas"
  behaviors:
    - "Share knowledge proactively"
    - "Experiment with new approaches"
    - "Seek and give constructive feedback"
  anti_patterns:
    - "Resistance to change"
    - "Not sharing learnings"
    - "Avoiding difficult conversations"

Value Implementation Tools

1. Decision Making Framework

# Value-Based Decision Template

## Context
- What's the situation?
- What are the constraints?

## Values Check
- Which values apply here?
- How do they guide us?

## Options Analysis
- Option 1: [Description + Value Alignment]
- Option 2: [Description + Value Alignment]
- Option 3: [Description + Value Alignment]

## Decision
- Chosen option
- Value-based rationale
- Expected outcomes

2. Behavior Assessment

assessment:
  value: "Customer Obsession"
  behaviors:
    - description: "Gathers customer feedback"
      evidence_required:
        - "Regular user interviews"
        - "Feature feedback cycles"
        - "Usage analytics review"
      
    - description: "Prioritizes customer impact"
      evidence_required:
        - "Impact assessments"
        - "Customer-centric KPIs"
        - "Feature adoption metrics"

Value Evolution Process

1. Discovery Phase

• Gather input from all levels
• Identify existing cultural strengths
• Map current behaviors

2. Definition Phase

• Craft clear value statements
• Define observable behaviors
• Create measurement framework

3. Implementation Phase

• Communication campaign
• Training workshops
• Tool integration

4. Reinforcement Phase

• Regular assessments
• Recognition programs
• Continuous refinement

Measuring Value Alignment

1. Quantitative Metrics

Metric	Good	Warning	Action Needed
Value Survey Score	> 8/10	6-8/10	< 6/10
Behavior Observation	> 80%	60-80%	< 60%
Decision Alignment	> 90%	70-90%	< 70%

2. Qualitative Indicators

• Stories shared in team meetings
• Peer recognition examples
• Customer feedback themes
• Interview responses

Common Anti-patterns

1. Values as Wall Art

❌ Problem: Values posted but not lived ✅ Solution: Regular value demonstrations and discussions

2. Inconsistent Application

❌ Problem: Different standards for different people ✅ Solution: Clear behavior rubrics and fair assessment

3. Value Conflicts

❌ Problem: Competing values create confusion ✅ Solution: Clear prioritization guidelines

Implementation Guide

First 30 Days

1. Document current values
2. Gather team feedback
3. Create behavior guides

60-90 Days

1. Train on value framework
2. Start measurement program
3. Implement recognition system

Beyond 90 Days

1. Regular value reviews
2. Evolution process
3. Impact assessment

Integration Points

With Other Practices

• Guides Culture
• Informs Mission & Objectives
• Shapes Team Decoupling

With Tools & Systems

• HR systems
• Performance reviews
• Recognition platforms

Related Topics

• Operating Model Overview
• Culture Guide
• Alignment & Feedback

Pro Tip: Values should be verbs, not nouns. They should describe how we act, not just what we believe.

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Further Reading

• “Start with Why” by Simon Sinek
• “Tribal Leadership” by Dave Logan
• “The Culture Code” by Daniel Coyle