After three years in his current role, Amir hunts for a fresh opportunity. But career advancement and improved financial security aren’t the only factors he’s considering. His job search also includes evaluating how his personal values align with the stated values of the organizations where he might apply. He wants his daily work to feel more fulfilling and meaningful—and he’s not alone in ranking value fit highly at work.
Traditional recruiting focused on skills and qualifications. Yet, when you compare job postings of today with those of a few decades ago, you’re likely to spot at least one big change. Typically employers now have a paragraph about their company culture and what kind of individual will “fit.” That’s because both the organization and the employee benefit when there is alignment.
As Deloitte observes, “If purpose is merely spoken of and not lived, it may open the organization up to allegations of purpose-washing or greenwashing.” That’s a big deal with the company’s 2023 study of more than 4,100 people showing that 84% saying it was important to work for an employer that provides meaningful work.
Advantages of value alignment at work
When someone’s personal values resonate with the work they’re doing, benefits can include:
- Greater job satisfaction as even the most mundane tasks can be attached to a bigger picture purpose
- Improved mental and emotional health as employees get to enact their core values on an ongoing basis
- Enhanced sense of belonging and psychological safety that comes from working with people who share the same values
Value alignment also translates to organizational advantages, such as the following:
- Sense of loyalty and commitment can increase collaboration, improve communication, and inspire innovative ideas
- Increased intrinsic motivation and engagement enhance the employee’s productivity and job performance
- Greater stability of workforce as employees’ feel more connected and support retention
- Satisfied employees who see their organization actively embodying their values are more likely to advocate for your company, which can improve recruiting success
Fostering a value-driven culture
Achieving strategic objectives and bettering the business bottom line are often the focus. Yet, value alignment can benefit both of these goals. That’s why it’s critical to define a mission, vision, and values and communicate those to current and potential employees.
This conversation can begin in the interview stage. Asking value-based questions of recruits can help identify people who will come on board and contribute to the culture you’re trying to foster. For example, if diversity is a focus, you might ask: “Tell us about a time a colleague expressed a different belief from yours. How did you feel and how did you react?” Or, perhaps social responsibility is a priority. You might ask: “Can you tell me about a time you experienced inequality and how you confronted it?”
Including current employees in the interview process can also help attract top talent to your culture. Interactions with potential colleagues gives individuals the opportunity to see culture in action and make more informed decisions about your organization.
In onboarding and integrating new hires into the organization, you’ll have many opportunities to emphasize values. Providing an employee handbook with the verbiage about mission, vision, and values is one thing. You can also schedule orientation sessions that work to make the values specific and tangible. Pairing incoming employees with mentors or buddies can also facilitate a connection to the culture and reinforce a feeling of belonging.
Connecting purpose and employee experience
Continue by holding leaders and the rest of your organization accountable for incorporating your shared values into daily practices. Implementing ethical guidelines and procedures, and reinforcing them, will work to some degree. But, you can make value alignment more transparent by ensuring organizational goals and actions align with the company’s purpose and values. Encourage leaders to discuss with employees how their work not only contributes to the company but also supports an overarching purpose.
It can also help to use recognition and rewards to highlight actions that embody organization values. You might also include discussions on values in meetings, internal communications, town halls and performance reviews to demonstrate how these values help your organization thrive (and can support future success).
Your mission, vision, or values may evolve over time. Ask staff for feedback on organizational values, how they can be refined, or where they are misaligned. This can help ensure any changes are staff-informed, which will help employees feel heard and respected while also making it easier to get buy-in to the new direction.
Sogolytics can help you shape a survey to identify your organizational strengths and where employees think you could make improvements. Work with our experts today to determine the best way to solicit and respond to employee feedback.
