In late summer of 2017, Power Grid Engineering welcomed the latest round of new hires (including me) with a Core Values presentation, given live by one of the co-founders & President of the company.
This presentation stuck with me throughout my time at this firm, and in the years following as an engineering leader.
What was most powerful about this interaction was not just reading through a list of values that I could view on a poster on the wall in any PGE office—rather, the President shared the significance behind each value, what it personally meant to him, and to the co-founders of the company.
Behind each value was a specific story of when the value was truly tested, and when the company held firm, even when it cost them in the short term.
I received a very clear message that values were not just posted—they were core to the operation of the business.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
As a leader of a small team, one can have their ear to the ground on a regular basis, directly demonstrate the behavior they want to see from others, and closely monitor any drifting from this “true north.”
As a leader’s team & responsibility grows, this becomes more difficult.
Communicating values, culture, and purpose eventually develops into a game of telephone, filtered through multiple layers of leadership.
This message can be quickly lost, and/or develop into a completely different message on the front lines. Different parts of the business can develop competing stories that lead to siloing and sabotage between teams, leading to soft-mutinies and unnecessary conflict.
Our values-based stories show the way. Stories can be propagated throughout the organization at every level—stories provide the deeper meaning and purpose that drives teams of teams to succeed. Stories rally the troops, and instill pride at all levels in what we do.
There is nothing more powerful than a leader describing a vulnerable moment in which adhering to their core values tested them deeply as a human being.
What is your story?
Daniel Khoroshansky
Windward Coaching Services