SPRINGBOARD: Values Drive Business and Life
Vol. 2, No. 4, October 2006
Sally Ward
Ward Leadership
www.wardleadership.com
Values Drive Business and Life
Rochester, N.Y. has an unusual claim to fame. Ask nearly anyone who moves away what
they miss most about living in Rochester and they’ll answer, “Wegman’s Supermarket.”
What makes this supermarket so special? Its values!
Whether you’re building a cutting-edge organization or wondering how to get more out of
life and work, Wegman’s makes a compelling case for taking a good look at core values.
Patriarch and visionary Bob Wegman transformed what began as a small family market
into a trend-setting company known throughout the world. He carried personal values of
excellence, innovation and family into the business, setting a standard for the freshest,
most extensive selections of meat and produce. Wegman was the first in North America to
offer customers the speed and accuracy of electronic scanning. He pioneered the
superstore and the concept of one-stop shopping, venturing far beyond traditional grocery
necessities to provide consumers with a quality-of-life experience.
Mr. Wegman firmly believed that employees should be treated like family members. A
Fortune 2005 survey named Wegman’s Food Markets the #1 place to work in the U.S.
Asked to comment, Mr. Wegman responded, “We have developed a feeling in our
company that we try to help one another. Our employees--our friends, I call them—don’t
really care as much about themselves as they do about other people. They make a
tremendous effort to help everybody and in the process of doing that, they enjoy their
work.”
Being clear about values enables a business to communicate to its customers and
employees the difference it intends to make in the world. A hotel giant may have values of
rapid growth and expansion, ease of access and competitive pricing. A small inn, on the
other hand, will often focus on providing intimate service in an idyllic setting. If you’re a
traveler who values economy, convenience and familiarity, you’ll opt for the large chain.
But if you value uniqueness, charm and personal attention, you’ll choose the inn.
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SPRINGBOARD: Values Drive Business and Life
On a personal note, values provide a framework that lights up our lives and helps us make
satisfying choices. When we’re living and working in harmony with our values, things feel
right with the world. There’s a sense of deep fulfillment, mission and purpose. Things feel out
of sync or even painfully uncomfortable when we fail to honor our values. My good buddy
and husband, Fran, is happiest envisioning the big picture and breaking new ground.
Metaphorically speaking, he would say that he loves the thrill of capturing the animals, but
hates being a zookeeper. In contrast, his business colleague thrives on details, service and
follow-up. There’s no right or wrong here; values are intrinsic and unique as a fingerprint.
Since most of us spend a large percentage of our lives working, it causes pain when
personal values don’t mesh with corporate values. We’re less motivated and productive. It
can be draining to go to work. But when there’s alignment between individual and
organizational values, ah, how sweet it is! And as the Wegman’s success story illustrates,
the payoff is significant: work attitudes and performance are higher; company pride and
loyalty are greater; job stress and tensions are reduced; there is a greater sense of
teamwork and ownership.
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What do you believe in? What values does your organization espouse?
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What are you passionate about?
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Whom do you admire? Why?
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What conditions are present when you’re at the top of your game?
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On a scale of 1-10, how in sync are you with your values?
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Quote for the Month
“Values are the banners that fly as we persist, as we struggle, as we toil. We refer to
them when we need to replenish our energy. Through them we can answer the question,
Was it worth it?”
James Kouzes and Barry Posner,
The Leadership Challenge
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2006 Sally Ward. All rights reserved.