The paperboard packaging industry relies on its leaders to expand its sphere of influence, set the course for future growth and development, and guide others towards these goals. However, a leader is only as strong as their team, which begs the question: how do you align your team with your vision in order to reach your goals?
That’s the question that PPC’s New Generation Leaders (NGL) group explored in their most recent virtual get together. Led by Keva Sonderen, Co-Owner of Sonderen Packaging, NGL members discussed the development and use of core behaviors in their own companies.
What are Core Behaviors?
It’s easier to understand core behaviors through the lens of core values, which are the beliefs your organization is founded upon. They outline who your company is, what you stand for, and how your team should conduct itself. In short, they’re your mission statement distilled into a bulleted list of its most important items.
Core behaviors, then, are the guidelines and strategies your team adopts in order to fulfill your company’s core values or mission. These habits grow with you and change to suit the needs of your team while still meeting your mission without compromise.
Why Do Core Behaviors Matter?
Core behaviors are critical for your business’ success because they act as a compass for your company. They ensure your team takes action aligned with your mission, goals, and purpose. If unexpected challenges arise, you and your managers can turn to your core behaviors to know how to respond to the new situation. Not only will you have a course of action, you know that it will be appropriate for your company.
Because core behaviors stem from your organization’s mission, they help you stay true to yourself while delivering on what you promise. This keeps your customers happier because you fulfill your promises to them, and they know exactly what they can expect when interacting with you.
How to Create Core Behaviors
So, “how can I make core behaviors specifically for my team?”
Start by looking at your company’s mission. What do you need to do to fulfill it? Those guiding actions are your core behaviors. They are how your teams should conduct themselves to ensure they’re always moving your company forward.
Still unsure how your team should be conducting themselves? Then ask your team! Taking poll of your coworkers can help you recognize what values your company shares and what everyone believes truly matters to your business. They can help you discover viewpoints and methods that you may not have come across on your own.
When everything else fails, look beyond your company. Reach out to colleagues, listen to thought leaders, and snoop around Google – these are all fantastic ways to start getting ideas that you can adopt for your organization. Core behaviors can grow and change so feel free to choose the best you find online and tailor them to your specific needs over time.
How to Implement
Now that you have your behaviors, it’s time to start implementing them.
Start with your leadership team. Employees at the top aren’t only responsible for overall strategy and management, they should lead by example. Have them adopt your core behaviors before the rest of your company. This will help inspire others to follow.
Encourage group adoption to increase the spread of your new values. Public displays of appreciation often will foster groups to band together around an idea or practice. Simple ways to show your gratitude for your team’s support includes:
- Offer bonuses for managers who ensure their team adopts the values
- Host a celebration when reaching a percentile of adoption (90%, 100%, etc.)
- Show appreciation, for example, shoutouts at large team meetings or personal thanks
- Share stories of your team – how core values affect their day-to-day jobs as well as how other members have implemented these behaviors in their daily lives
Lastly, don’t be afraid to remove weak links. If a certain worker disregards values and refuses to change after being spoken with, it may be time to reconsider the relationship. Your team should be comprised of people who want to participate in what matters to your company.
If you’re still struggling with translating core values into core behaviors, or with achieving full team participation, consider reaching out to PPC. We provide tools, resources, webinars, and connections designed to help members grow and improve. If you want to talk these and any other ideas through, join us at our next NGL session.