Organisations are no longer only being held accountable for what they achieve, but for the way that they achieve it as well. At the heart of ethical business practices lies one fundamental truth: the values that drive your employees, are the values that will drive your organisation. This is why focus must not only be placed on a potential employees work history, but one must also determine if their values and ethics match that of the organisations as well.
Why Hiring for Values Matters
Having an ethical business culture doesn’t just happen by accident, it’s a behaviour that must be modelled and reinforced from top management down and shown internally as well as externally. When organisations put a focus on hiring individuals that align with their core values, they create a team that is likely to make decisions and collaborate with integrity and respect even when no one is watching.
At a time where consumers, suppliers, shareholders and so on expect transparency and accountability, having a team that is driven by values and ethics can be a competitive advantage.
Finding the Right Fit
Recruiting for values should start long before the potential employees first interview. It starts by an organisation clearly defining their values and communicating those values consistently. Job postings should focus on two things. The first, being the actual job and the skills and qualifications required. The second, the ethical principles that guide the organisation and are expected from every stakeholder involved.
Immersing New Hires in Company Culture
Onboarding is an organisations first opportunity to reinforce the values that they are driven by. Share stories of how employee values have shaped decisions, recognise employees who display ethical behaviour, and create safe spaces for employees to ask questions or raise any concerns.
Reinforcing Daily Values
Hiring for values requires an ongoing commitment like recognising and rewarding behaviour that reflects the organisations ethics, providing regular training focused on integrity, ethics and accountability.
Hiring for values is a long-term investment in the culture and reputation of your organisation.
