Growing Pains??? Integrate Your People With Your Values
ESCALATOR MODEL
The Escalator Model is a way to understand the process of the people and value dynamic within your business. Building on company values to find the right people involves an approach that includes finding, developing, empowering, multiplying, and filtering through values repeatedly. Once you get a system rolling, you can then build and replicate it, like an escalator revolving stairs one step at a time. Here’s how you can infuse each step with your values to ensure you’re attracting and retaining the best fit for your organization.
Find
Finding the right people starts with casting a wide net but with a very clear bait—your company values. When advertising job openings, highlight your values prominently. Are you big on innovation? Make sure your job descriptions reflect a culture of creativity and forward-thinking. This way, you attract candidates who not only have the skills but also resonate with your organizational ethos.
Develop
Once you’ve found aligned people and leaders, the next step is to develop their potential in line with your values. Create training programs that not only teach job-specific skills but also reinforce your values. If integrity is a cornerstone value, incorporate ethics training and real-world scenarios that employees might face. Provide continuous learning opportunities that allow employees to grow both professionally and personally. Encourage mentorship programs where seasoned employees embodying your values can guide new hires.
Empower
Empowering employees means giving them the autonomy and tools they need to live out your values in their daily work. Trust is a key component here; demonstrate this by giving employees the freedom to make decisions within their roles. Encourage innovation by allowing employees to experiment and take calculated risks. Calculated is the key word here. As we discussed in chapter one, this requires Accountable Guidance. Recognize and celebrate when employees demonstrate your values, whether it’s through awards, shout-outs in meetings, or other forms of appreciation. This not only motivates individuals but also sets a clear example for others to follow.
Multiply
To multiply your talent, values must run deep throughout your organization, ensure that they are consistently communicated and reinforced. This can be done through regular training sessions, workshops, and team-building activities centered around your values. Create a culture where employees are encouraged to share stories and examples of values in action. For instance, a company newsletter/email could feature values like the DANCER example. This creates a ripple effect, ensuring that your values are continuously propagated and ingrained in the company culture.
Filter
Finally, filtering ensures that everyone in your organization remains aligned with your values. Regular performance coaching should include an assessment of how well employees embody the company’s values. If someone is consistently out of step with your values, it’s important to address this early. Offer additional training or coaching to help them become aligned. Maintaining a strong values centric culture sometimes means making tough decisions, but it’s crucial for the overall health and integrity of the organization.
By integrating your company values into every step, from finding to filtering, it ensures that every hire, development plan, and performance coaching is not just about skills and output but also about being unified in values.
Author, Harrison Tash
Founder of Living Water
