Building Positive Relationships with Self - Living Our Values

As an organization, it is really important for us to build positive relationships with ourselves and others.  We believe this is especially true for our organization because we are values based. We work to live up to and within the framework of our values.  Philosophically speaking this sounds great, and maybe fluffy and perhaps unattainable and therefore unimportant. Except that it’s not.

Here’s why: values provide structure, boundaries and guidelines for our behavior.  When we behave within those guidelines we feel connected to each other and the organization.  When we feel a part of or connected to something greater than ourselves we feel good. When we feel good we tend to be more productive.  When we are more productive the organization and individual benefits. That’s the rational, concrete and business case for “living our values”.  It’s only when the organization or individual does not operate within the confines of an organization’s values that relationships tend to diverge. 

This divergence though is something that can be minimized when we, as individuals build positive relationships with Self. This tends to be true for two main reasons. First, our relationship with ourselves informs our behavior, and how we treat ourselves is typically how we treat others.  Secondly, organizations are made up of people, individuals. Sure we have huge amounts of automation and technology and lots of policy, procedures and processes, but for now humans still run, administer, and manage the business/organizational systems. Combining these two points, it starts to make sense why it is important for each of us to build positive relationship with ourselves.  We not only want to treat ourselves well, but we also want to be treated well by other individuals. 

When each of us make the commitment to self and others to build connections where trust, meaningful interaction, effective communication and personal safety are paramount, it becomes more of a reality and less of a philosophical idea to live within the framework of our values. For us we realize that living our Relationship value helps us as individuals feel connected, and helps the organization do well. We are committed to building positive relationships with ourselves because we understand the impact it can have on ourselves, each other and the organization. 

What are your thoughts about organizations living their values, what have your experiences been?

Love,

A&Co