At GOLD, we’ve designed a set of core values that are deeply rooted in our mission and vision statements, and serves as our organization’s guiding light.
When I think about what makes GOLD special, I think about our team. Each individual employee embodies GOLD, and with our core values leading our organization, it makes for that much more magical of a work environment.
I’d like to take a look at GOLD’s core values one by one to focus on their deeper meaning. Our first core value is: I will be accountable and responsible for my work performance, my relationships with others, and my actions.
When you look at those words, how do you react to them? Do you feel they have a positive or negative connotation? At GOLD, we as a team encourage each other to look at these words in a positive light. As individuals, it’s important to set standards and goals for ourselves as it relates to our work, and I believe our team does just that.
Accountability and responsibility can be used interchangeably, but let’s break them down a bit further.
Understanding Accountability and Responsibility
When you hold yourself accountable, it measures your ability to take ownership of your work and the task at hand. With responsibility, you’re in full control of the work you do and the decisions you make. Accountability and responsibility work hand in hand together. The purpose of these powerful words are to encourage employees to do and be better for themselves and for their team.
I believe that accountability and responsibility inspire us all to be more committed to our work, to our organization, to our trusted team, and to our community. When a person shows that they’re accountable and responsible, not only does it show they’re committed to what they do, it shows they truly care about their organization and the work they provide to better support it.
If you’ve got a core value where accountability and responsibility are involved, it allows for your team to take ownership and responsibility of their work to fulfill individual and team goals that ultimately set your organization up for success.
Keep the Morale High
When accountability and responsibility are present in the workplace and employees fully embrace these values, your organization will flourish.
A work culture built on dependency and reliability are essential to your company’s success. Employees and leaders that are able to rely on one another create an environment of support, recognition, and trust. An environment that makes employees feel valued and supported, leads to increased motivation and commitment, which results in higher morale and productivity.
Employees have more of a desire to set themselves and the organization up for success. Instead of only looking at their job as a place to collect a paycheck, they’re more invested in themselves and their long-term career goals, their colleagues, and the organization overall.
Lack of Accountability and Responsibility
On the other hand, what happens when there’s a lack of accountability and responsibility in the workplace? For starters, it could lead to a toxic work environment. Without the support from superiors and fellow coworkers, engagement and productivity will be low, there will be little to no employee morale, and the employee will be forced to question their role within the organization due to feeling unappreciated and under-valued.
As leaders, it’s important to encourage our employees to strive for excellence. It’s our responsibility to create a work environment in which employees feel supported and valued. Without these key components, you’ll be at risk of frequent turnover and could potentially lose highly skilled employees.
Adopt Your Own Set of Core Values
Do you have a set of core values in your workplace? If not, I encourage you to adopt a similar set, and be sure to include accountability and responsibility on the list as they relate to your own organization. When your employees understand the importance of keeping accountability and responsibility top of mind, I assure you that you’ll see a positive shift in both their work and their mentality. They’ll feel more empowered to be their best for themselves and for your own team.
Throughout the year, I’ll be taking a deeper look at each of our core values one by one to explore their meanings, the positive impact they can have on your employees, and how you can incorporate similar core values into your organization. Stay tuned for next time when I jump into core value number two!