The document discusses activating core values to enhance corporate productivity. It outlines how identifying, defining, and upholding core values can guide an organization's behavior and decision-making. Some key points made include: core values are the fundamental principles that dictate an organization's conduct; they should be visible in all aspects of operations and regularly reviewed; developing core values requires input from all staff and balancing conciseness with coverage of priorities; and upholding core values, even in difficult situations, demonstrates their true importance to the organization.

1. ACTIVATING CORE VALUES TO ENHANCE CORPORATE PRODUCTIVITY
PRESENTED AT THE 2019 STAFF COLLOQUIUM,
CALEB UNIVERSITY, LAGOS, NIGERIA
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 10, 2019
BY
‘LOLU AKINWUNMI, frpa; fnimn
GROUP CEO
PRIMA GARNET AFRICA
PAST CHAIRMAN, APCON
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2. Colloquium Objective
• An annual staff event for capacity building in
best glocal management practices
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3. What is the Core Value?
• A principle or belief that a person or
organization sees as being of central
importance to its operation
• E.g., the company is interested in big
businesses but will not bribe to obtain
them because it doesn’t believe in bribery
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4. What is the Core Value?...2
• They are the fundamental beliefs of a person or organization.
• These guiding principles dictate behaviour and can help people understand the
difference between right and wrong.
• Core values also help organizations to determine if they are on the right path and
fulfilling their goals by creating an unwavering guide.
• There are many different examples of core values in the world, depending upon
the context.
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5. Some Types of Core Values
• Dependability
• Reliability
• Loyalty
• Commitment
• Open-mindedness
• Consistency
• Honesty
• Efficiency
• Innovation
• Creativity
• Good humour
• Compassion
• Spirit of adventure
• Motivation
• Positivity
• Optimism
• Passion
• Respect
• Fitness
• Courage
• Education
• Perseverance
• Patriotism
• Service to others
• Environmentalism
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6. Some Types of Core Values…2
• There are countless types of core values, as you can see
• So you will need to choose the ones that are right for you or your organization.
• It's natural to want to choose a long list of core values in an effort to be the best
you can be
• However, limiting your selection to two or three helps you focus on your mission
in life without becoming distracted.
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7. Corporate Core Values
• Organizations can have
core values as well.
• These are the guiding principles
that help to define how they should
behave in business and perhaps beyond,
if they have an additional mission to
serve the community.
• Core values are usually expressed
in the corporation's mission and vision statements
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8. Some Examples of Corporate Core Values Expressions
• A commitment to sustainability and to acting in an environmentally friendly
way..
• A commitment to innovation and excellence. Apple Computer is perhaps best
known for having a commitment to innovation as a core value. This is embodied
by their "Think Different" motto.
• A commitment to doing good for the whole. Google, for example, believes in
making a great search engine and building a great company without being evil.
• A commitment to helping those less fortunate. TOMS shoe company gives away
a pair of shoes to a needy person for every pair it sells in an effort to alleviate
poverty and make life better for others.
• A commitment to building strong communities. Shell oil company donates
millions of dollars in charities wherever it operates
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9. How Do You Identify Core Values?
• All organizations advertise positive core values
• Even tobacco companies whose products cause health casualties still talk of
supporting the economy, the environment etc.
• You can judge what is in the heart of an organization by the way they act when
they need to defend the core values vs. profits
• A core value is only true if it has an active influence and if the people or company
manage to live by it, at least most of the time.
• To get a sense of what your core values are, ask yourself what activities bring you
the most joy, or what you couldn't live without. What gives your life meaning or
what do you want to achieve? If you can articulate those answers, you'll likely see
a pattern that you can boil down into a single concept, such as a consistently
positive attitude or using your creativity to make the world a better place.
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10. Some Common Core Values
• Integrity
• Accountability
• Diligence
• Perseverance
• Discipline
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11. How Do You Craft An Organizational Core Value?
Ajay Pattani is an Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) member and founder of Perfect Search
Media a search and social agency. Ajay counts his business core values among the
company's most important assets. Here's part of what he shared:
• When you interview applicants, make sure they are the right fit.
• It's not just about whether or not they have certain skills; it's also about whether they
reflect your organization's mission and values
• One of my favourite questions is: "Describe an experience in your last role where you
took initiative and created or implemented a process.”
• I like that question because it provides insights that resonate with our company's core
value of taking initiative. This has the dual benefit of giving us the opportunity to share
our values while determining whether the applicant personifies them or has the
potential to do so. We're a proactive group, so in every interview, we tie questions back
to our core values. And it goes even further than that: In our company, we tie our core
values to pretty much everything!
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12. Delineate What Distinguishes Your Oganization…2
• Core values guide how an organization thinks and behaves; they're the bedrock
on which business decisions are made and successful relationships are formed.
• Once defined, core values should be visible in every aspect of company
operations: from sales and marketing to internal reviews to employee check-ins,
and these should be periodically reviewed.
• Display your core values in every available space!
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13. Create and Use The Process
• The process of developing your core values will neither be quick nor easy. Once
you realize the need for organizational values, you will want to develop them
together, as a team. This bottom-up approach makes sense because everyone is
involved. (Redeemers Uni example)
• Brainstorming core values must be a deliberate exercise. Split up into small
groups, and each will list the qualities that they believe you embody. Once you
collate and remove overlaps, something concrete must begin to emerge
• You also don’t want too many or too few. Your team must decide a reasonable
number that’s easy to manage and that covers key areas.
• Then you narrow the full list, chose the most important values, and workshop
them into concise statements. That's how many core values are born.
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14. Revisit And Evolve
 No core value list is ever static.
 It is necessary for organizations to review, study and upgrade their core value
list regularly.
 This way, your organization stands a better chance to remain relevant and
contemporary in an ever evolving world.
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15. Be Ready To Define Your Core Values?
Core values are more than just words. They are your way of life. They also offer
some lessons:
• Make them detailed with summary headings so they are easy to remember
• Ensure visibility so that everyone can view and review them daily, rather than
burying them in a handbook.
• Leverage core values within organization’s communications rewarding groups and
individuals that comply; create healthy reward systems
• Revisit them on an annual basis. As your culture evolves, so may your values.
• Organizations with strong cultures are known to perform better than those
without. Although creating and leveraging core values may seem daunting, the
impact on your organization can be tremendous. So, gather your team and get
ready to brainstorm!
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16. Mission & Vision Statements
• A Mission Statement defines the company's business, its objectives and its
approach to reach those objectives.
• A Vision Statement describes the desired future position of the company.
• Elements of Mission and Vision Statements are often combined to provide
a statement of the company's purposes, goals and values.
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17. Prima Garnet Statement of Commitment
“We have a strong commitment to conducting our businesses with the utmost
integrity and probity, adhering to the highest standards of ethics and just conduct”.
• Combination of core values that evolved into our Mission and Vision Statements
• Utmost integrity and probity
• Highest standards of ethics and just conduct
This impacts on all we do, and everyone knows Prima Garnet Africa will NEVER give a
bribe or do any of the other unsavoury things.
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18. How Do We Integrate This In An Organization?
• From the time you apply to join us; the questionnaire is specific about it
• At interviews we present subtle case studies
• All staff KNOW that under no condition will you accept or demand or give bribe
• Many will say its not possible, but I have indicated in my memoirs what we have
gone through defending and upholding these core values
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19. Case Study: The Carnegie Mellon University
Vision
Carnegie Mellon University will have a transformative impact on society through
continual innovation in education, research, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
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20. Case Study: The Carnegie Mellon University…2
Mission
• To create a transformative educational experience for students focused on deep
disciplinary knowledge; problem solving; leadership, communication, and
interpersonal skills; and personal health and well-being.
• To cultivate a transformative university community committed to (a) attracting
and retaining diverse, world-class talent; (b) creating a collaborative environment
open to the free exchange of ideas, where research, creativity, innovation, and
entrepreneurship can flourish; and (c) ensuring individuals can achieve their full
potential.
• To impact society in a transformative way — regionally, nationally, and globally —
by engaging with partners outside the traditional borders of the university
campus.
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21. The Carnegie Mellon University…3: Mission Breakdown
• Create a transformative educational experience for students
• Focus on deep disciplinary knowledge
• Problem solving;
• Leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills;
• Personal health and well-being
• Cultivate a transformative university community committed to:
(a) Attracting and retaining diverse, world-class talent;
(b) Creating a collaborative environment open to the free exchange of ideas, where
research, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship can flourish; and
(c) Ensuring individuals can achieve their full potential.
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22. Questions & Comments?!
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