How to Establish Your Company’s Core Values: A 10-Minute, 4-Step Process

One of the most pivotal points in our company’s growth happened when we established our core values.

A new entrepreneur recently asked me “HOW do I establish my core values?” Here’s one way to do it that is fun and insightful. This also makes a fun group exercise with your leadership team.

• Step 1: Quickly write out a list of people you ENJOY working with, and why. Could be coworkers, employees, bosses, etc. Write their name, and the trait that you like about them. Try to keep it to one or two words.
• Step 2: Quickly write a list of BRANDS or companies that you enjoy doing business with, and why.
• Step 3: Quickly write a list of BRANDS you don’t like working with, or that leave a bad taste in your mouth, and why.
• Step 4: Circle the words that appear on the list more than once. Also take note when their opposite shows up in the “don’t like” list.

Watch the video below for a demonstration. Access a copy of the worksheet for yourself here.

What are your core values? Let me know in the comments.