Most businesses and organizations have a mission and a vision. They are what drive the strategy and goals as the organization moves forward towards success and sustainability. If the mission and vision are the engine that drives strategy, what is it that helps an organization move forward? It is the values that powers that engine to move the organization to the goals and success they desire. I am not saying that holding your values guarantees success, because values can be good or bad, but I am saying that the values you practice are just as important as the mission, vision, and goals you set for yourself or your organization.
When I read Dr. Donna Hicks PhD first book on dignity she wrote about the negotiations between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Two leaders at the table where one had recently tried to kill the other. How do you put aside that anger (which is a value) to say I forgive you and now let’s talk about peace between our people. When Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa, he tasked Bishop Desmond Tutu to bring peace between the now defeated apartheid government and the Black South Africans through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He had public hearings and gave those who committed horrible crimes and human rights abuses that if they confess they would be pardoned and forgiven. Understand that the Dutch leaders in South Africa had values and the belief that they were superior to the Black people in South Africa and they had a right to do with them what they pleased. They robbed them of their dignity and the right to exist as people. When Nelson Mandela became President, he could have made the decision to get revenge but instead he chose to honor dignity, offer forgiveness and heal a nation.
We all have our opinions about the choices made by Nelson Mandela but the values he held in honoring dignity is what brought peace to South Africa while he was their leader. When our values are in line with dignity, the opportunity for success increases as you have an engaged workforce and a satisfied customer base. It sounds so easy to do and if that is the case, why do so many organizations fail at it.
At Berkshire Health Systems we have what we call CARE Values (Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence). These values are what drive our mission and vision which is to “Advance health and wellness for everyone in our community in a welcoming, inclusive and personalized environment and to become a trusted partner in improving quality of care.” If we do not honor our values, it puts our mission and vision at risk. It is why we work hard to embed these values in all our leaders and frontline employees.
Values are one of those things that must start at the top of any organization. If the leaders do not honor the core values of the organization, then we can’t expect our frontline people too. It took me awhile to recognize the importance of having values and honoring dignity. In my role as the DEI Officer of the organization, I recognize that I represent the over 4000 employees I work with. I am out in the community, and it is important that I represent those CARE values. It is not just a reflection on me it is a reflection on what we say is our mission and vision. I believe in our values, and I do my best to live them every day.
Values are a measure of success. It is why they are just as important as our mission. They go hand in hand. We cannot meet our goals without honoring those things that are good within us. Our values should be driven by honoring dignity to ourselves, to others, and to something higher like our mission and vision. When we lead and do not do the right things, it doesn’t matter what we say we lose trust. If we care for others and do not treat them with dignity, it doesn’t matter how many awards we win, we can’t be successful when we lose the trust of the people who depend on us.
It is just the way it is.
As my mother always said. “It is not who we say we are, but it is how we treat others that tells the real story.” (As close as I can remember)
Charles Redd
Dignity Freedom Fighter
Dignity Freedom Fighter 