Values Shmalues
Having clearly stated company values is one way to intentionally create a culture where employees thrive. Unfortunately, many companies list nice-sounding traits without clearly defining them. They don’t model them from the top down and don’t reinforce them in meaningful ways.
As Patrick M. Lencioni put it: “Most values statements are bland, toothless, or just plain dishonest. And far from being harmless, as some executives assume, they’re often highly destructive. Empty values statements create cynical and dispirited employees, alienate customers, and undermine managerial credibility.”
We’ve all witnessed this firsthand — working with or for companies whose values don’t reflect the actual culture.
So why bother with values at all? And how do you make them constructive instead of destructive?
The Power of Core Values
Values are a core set of beliefs, principles, and practices that guide your organization. They help your team fulfill its mission and vision. They also act as accountability guardrails for how people show up at work.
There is a lot of information available on values and we are not trying to reinvent the wheel. In their book Built to Last, Jim Collins and Jerry Porras discuss core values as being “inherent and sacrosanct; they can never be compromised, either for convenience or short-term economic gain.”
In other words, values are a true north for how a company operates at all levels.
The keys to creating meaningful values: define them clearly, model them from the top down, create norms and rituals from them, and reinforce them consistently.
Grin Events Core Values
At Grin Events, we have a set of core values we use as guiding principles for our team. They are listed on our website, clearly defined, and inform how we carry on in the day-to-day.
Here are a few ways we are leaning into the Grin Events way of doing business:
Connection
Luckily, this value is easy to embody because it’s at the heart of everything we do. That said, our weekly team meetings start with a recap of our weekends and any life updates. That keeps us connected to each other. We also believe in the power of teamwork and respect each other’s roles and the expertise we each bring.
Fun
Fun is also inherent to what we do in hosting games. We constantly check in with each other to make sure we’re having fun while running the business. We know fun can’t be faked — and it’s contagious. The more fun our staff has at an event, the more fun we can guarantee for our clients. Of course, not every part of running a business is our favorite. But as long as we enjoy the work overall, we feel like we’re fulfilling this value.
Excellence
From the first interaction with a client to the follow-up after every event, we want teams to have unforgettable experiences. We infuse excellence into every detail — clean equipment, technical checks on our virtual events, and a relentless attention to quality. We believe exceptional service from dedicated people who care creates unexpected results. Luckily, our clients have told us this value is one we can be proud of.
Balance
Balance is often overused and under-emphasized in team settings. However, we believe in family first. We prioritize flexibility with hours and schedules. We maintain professionalism at all times but encourage our team to get out and have fun themselves — so they can be the best versions of themselves for our clients.
Integrity
This is the single most important trait we can live into. We authentically believe in doing the right thing for its own sake. This includes honesty, loyalty, accountability, and fairness. We know clients are investing time and money with us — and we take that seriously. We want to honor the trust our clients place in us by delivering on what we promise. If something isn’t working, we work hard to fix it. We’ve had to make hard decisions to stay true to this value, but it has contributed to our culture and success.
Connection Can Be Part of Every Company
We love working with clients who share similar values. Even if the stated core values differ, they usually connect to something related to teamwork, camaraderie, or collaboration.
Regardless of an organization’s values, playing games and having fun together is a proven way to reinforce them. Hosting events creates a cultural norm of team building — building a more cohesive, connected employee base. It’s why we specialize in Team Connecting and not just team building. It’s good for leaders, employees, and your bottom line.
So whether your values focus on diversity, innovation, or transparency — getting employees out of their daily routine to play games together is a great way to bond your team.
We’re the Experts in Fun
We know planning something fun to reinforce your core values can feel intimidating which is why we’re here to help. From virtual game shows to in-person leisure games, we can recommend an event type that’s just right for your organization.
Contact us to get started!
- Email: smile@grin.events
- Website form
- Phone call: 619-972-4746 (we’re old school and actually prefer this method!)
