The connection between values and behaviours is something I tend to consider when working with teams and organisations trying to align their culture with their goals.
In a nutshell, values are the principles or standards that we hold as important—they’re the “why” behind what we do. Behaviours, are the “how”—the tangible actions we take that reflect those values in our day-to-day work.
Here’s how I see it – Values without behaviours are just words. They might look nice on a poster or sound good in a meeting, but if they’re not reflected in our actions, they don’t mean much. On the flip side, behaviours without a foundation in values can feel empty or inconsistent. It’s when values and behaviours are in sync that they really start to shape the culture of an organisation.
Take, for example, a value like “integrity.” If an organisation claims integrity as a core value, you expect to see behaviours that reflect honesty, transparency, and fairness in every aspect of its operations. This might mean leaders openly sharing information with their teams, employees admitting mistakes instead of covering them up, or a company being straightforward in its dealings with customers. When these behaviours consistently reflect the value of integrity, that value becomes a lived reality within the organization.
But here’s the thing, aligning values and behaviours isn’t always easy. It requires conscious effort, especially in challenging situations where it might be easier to cut corners or take the path of least resistance. That’s why it’s so important for organisations to clearly define what their values mean in terms of specific behaviours. For example, if “innovation” is a value, what does that look like in practice? Does it mean encouraging employees to take risks, rewarding creative solutions, or dedicating time to brainstorming sessions? The more specific we can get about the behaviours that embody our values, the easier it is to live those values consistently.
So, when thinking about values and behaviours, let’s collectively ask ourselves: Are our daily actions truly reflecting what we say we stand for? And if not, what changes do we need to make to align our behaviours more closely with our values? This alignment is where the real power of values lies—it’s not in the words themselves, but in how they shape what we do, day in and day out.
Over to you. How have you created alignment between values and behaviours in your organisation? I’d love to hear your thoughts and learn from your experiences.
