One of the things that makes Engage exceptional is its culture. And the backbone of our culture is our values. If you’ve ever been in a meeting with me then you’ve probably heard me talk (or pontificate) about them.
The sum of those conversations make up a relatively defined picture in my mind regarding who we are. BUT I thought it might be a useful exercise to aggregate our shared thoughts and definitions in one place. I’m writing this post for not just the fellow people of Engage, but for those that want a deeper insight into our company culture.
Common Questions
Before we jump into what our values are, I’d like to address the two comments that tend to come up when discussing the concept of company values with others.
What do you mean by core values?
Generally, values are company-wide principles that inform conduct. For us, they are shared attributes that define our operating philosophy and produce behavioral parameters for success. They help shape expectations for conduct and output. They are ideals which we strive to meet.
How do you determine what your values are?
The interesting thing about values is that every culture has them, whether or not they are realized, verbalized, or identified. Engage’s values grew organically and were realized rather than shaped. But once identified and established, they have taken on the role of company guardrail, dictating the boundary of what’s acceptable (and also what’s exceptional).
Some folks identify or determine values at a company retreat. Others have business consultants come in and audit their organization to help determine them. Management can also create and identify values and distribute them top-down (or down up). Regardless, I challenge everyone to identify your values and cultivate the ones that represent both where you are and where you want to be.
Our Values
Our values, which you can read on our about page, are listed below along with an accompanying explanation of what they mean. While they may seem rather generic from a distance, the descriptions allow you to see how each one is filled with subtle nuance and guiding definitions.
Trust
The intersection of integrity and competence, trust empowers us to manage our commitments effectively, master our roles, grow through experience, and behave ethically.
Quality
To produce the extraordinary, we must act with purpose, communicate exceptionally, recognize limits, execute with precision, and cultivate aesthetics in all that we present.
Leadership
Beyond setting an example, leadership means being driven by initiative, embracing mentorship, committing to self-growth, and owning everything we touch as if it were solely ours.
Innovation
In the face of stagnation and complacency, innovation is bred through intellectual curiosity, restlessness, infectious aspiration, and the courage to challenge the status quo.
Reading about our values and our culture on paper is great but to experience them is something truly unique and special. They come to life when we’re doing things like having meetings with each other, designing solutions, and producing deliverables. Our culture drives us to put passion into our work and deliver results that continually surpass expectations. What are your values and how do you use them? We’d love to hear from you. Fill out our contact form or send me an email at rapprich@engagedc.com.