Ep.024: Core Values | Part One
Core values are the foundation of any thriving organizational culture, yet many businesses struggle with effectively implementing them. In this revealing episode of The Higher Up Podcast, Brady, Benji, and Adam dive into the challenging process of revamping their company's core values after realizing their existing framework wasn't resonating with their team.
The journey began approximately four years ago when Brady was asked by his mentor whether he had core values for his business. While he initially responded affirmatively, he quickly realized that these values weren't documented or clearly defined—they were merely borrowed from their corporate office. This pivotal moment set them on a path to developing their own unique set of core values that would genuinely represent their organization's identity and guiding principles.
Their first attempt resulted in an overwhelming 22 core values. As Brady humorously admitted, "I thought, hey, the more the merrier." However, this abundance created complexity rather than clarity. The team struggled to memorize them all, and marketing materials couldn't effectively accommodate such an extensive list. This situation perfectly illustrated Patrick Lencioni's wisdom: "When everything is important, then nothing is." The sheer volume of core values diluted their significance, making them difficult to implement meaningfully in daily operations.
The podcast hosts share a candid discussion about the complacency they observed in their organization, particularly following the cultural shifts that emerged after 2020. Rather than blaming their team members, they recognized that leadership needed to look inward first. Brady emphasized that leaders must "define reality" as John Maxwell teaches, and be willing to admit when something isn't working—even when it's their "baby." This vulnerability aligns with Craig Rochelle's insight that "people would rather follow a leader who's always real than who's always right."
A significant turning point came during a leadership meeting when Brady dramatically tore up the existing core values document and announced they were starting over. This powerful gesture initiated a transformative process involving all ten company leaders in deep, sometimes challenging conversations about what truly mattered to their organization. Using their collective wisdom, supplemented by AI assistance, they refined their values from the original 22 down to just seven—a number they noted has significance as "the perfect number" in biblical terms.
The podcast underscores the importance of involving your team in the development of core values to foster genuine buy-in. When leaders include their employees in the decision-making process—truly listening to their input and incorporating their feedback—they create a culture of ownership and accountability. One particularly insightful moment comes when Adam shares how Brady's willingness to listen to feedback and make changes based on team input significantly increased his own investment in the company's success.
The episode concludes with the hosts teasing the upcoming revelation of their seven refined core values in the next episode. They emphasize that this transformation wasn't quick or easy—it involved approximately ten hours of passionate discussion among their leadership team. However, they recognized, as James Clear notes in "Atomic Habits," that "you don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems." Core values represent the operating system of an organization, and getting them right is essential for sustainable success.
For leaders struggling with similar challenges, this episode offers valuable insights: simplify your values to make them memorable, involve your team in their development, be willing to start fresh when necessary, and recognize that your core values must be clear enough that everyone can articulate them in under ten seconds. Only then will they truly guide behavior and decision-making throughout your organization.
Chapters:
0:15 Welcome to Episode 24
3:14 Introducing Core Values
7:17 Do You Really Know Your Core Values?
13:00 From 22 Values to Clarity
19:54 Complexity vs. Clarity
27:48 Including Your Team in the Process
27:48 The Realignment Process Begins
The journey began approximately four years ago when Brady was asked by his mentor whether he had core values for his business. While he initially responded affirmatively, he quickly realized that these values weren't documented or clearly defined—they were merely borrowed from their corporate office. This pivotal moment set them on a path to developing their own unique set of core values that would genuinely represent their organization's identity and guiding principles.
Their first attempt resulted in an overwhelming 22 core values. As Brady humorously admitted, "I thought, hey, the more the merrier." However, this abundance created complexity rather than clarity. The team struggled to memorize them all, and marketing materials couldn't effectively accommodate such an extensive list. This situation perfectly illustrated Patrick Lencioni's wisdom: "When everything is important, then nothing is." The sheer volume of core values diluted their significance, making them difficult to implement meaningfully in daily operations.
The podcast hosts share a candid discussion about the complacency they observed in their organization, particularly following the cultural shifts that emerged after 2020. Rather than blaming their team members, they recognized that leadership needed to look inward first. Brady emphasized that leaders must "define reality" as John Maxwell teaches, and be willing to admit when something isn't working—even when it's their "baby." This vulnerability aligns with Craig Rochelle's insight that "people would rather follow a leader who's always real than who's always right."
A significant turning point came during a leadership meeting when Brady dramatically tore up the existing core values document and announced they were starting over. This powerful gesture initiated a transformative process involving all ten company leaders in deep, sometimes challenging conversations about what truly mattered to their organization. Using their collective wisdom, supplemented by AI assistance, they refined their values from the original 22 down to just seven—a number they noted has significance as "the perfect number" in biblical terms.
The podcast underscores the importance of involving your team in the development of core values to foster genuine buy-in. When leaders include their employees in the decision-making process—truly listening to their input and incorporating their feedback—they create a culture of ownership and accountability. One particularly insightful moment comes when Adam shares how Brady's willingness to listen to feedback and make changes based on team input significantly increased his own investment in the company's success.
The episode concludes with the hosts teasing the upcoming revelation of their seven refined core values in the next episode. They emphasize that this transformation wasn't quick or easy—it involved approximately ten hours of passionate discussion among their leadership team. However, they recognized, as James Clear notes in "Atomic Habits," that "you don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems." Core values represent the operating system of an organization, and getting them right is essential for sustainable success.
For leaders struggling with similar challenges, this episode offers valuable insights: simplify your values to make them memorable, involve your team in their development, be willing to start fresh when necessary, and recognize that your core values must be clear enough that everyone can articulate them in under ten seconds. Only then will they truly guide behavior and decision-making throughout your organization.
Chapters:
0:15 Welcome to Episode 24
3:14 Introducing Core Values
7:17 Do You Really Know Your Core Values?
13:00 From 22 Values to Clarity
19:54 Complexity vs. Clarity
27:48 Including Your Team in the Process
27:48 The Realignment Process Begins
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