Character First Provides a Great Tool for Developing Core Values

Character First provides a great tool for helping develop a set of core values for businesses and organizations.  Core values go a long way toward engaging and valuing employees, elements that lead to happy, very productive employees.  Unfortunately, many business owners and managers don't get this, relying on "management by numbers" and hiring only based on technical skills.  The business schools have never really taught about the importance of core values and character in the workplace; most never will.  That's why there's a whole industry of companies like global Character First (now part of Strata Leadership, LLC) showing organizations that will listen how to engage their employees by using servant leadership and core values.

(Email invitation to my contact list yesterday.)
July 9, 2013

Hello:

Several area small business owners have asked us to coordinate a group training session to help them initiate Character First.  On August 6, we have the opportunity to participate in a Character First Orientation Training in Independence Kansas.  Through a joint effort, the Innovative Business Resource Center (IBRC) and the Successful Entrepreneur Program at Independence Community College will host the training at ICC's West campus providing a cost effective way for small business owners and other organizational leaders  to take advantage of this training.

Training hours will be from 9:00 to 5:00 and include a light lunch and refreshments.  Cost of the training is $149 per manager/leader payable to IBRC.   Registration is open with links at www.ibrc.org or you can call me at 620-332-5470 to register.

Since 2006 when I began to work with entrepreneurs and small business owners through this program at ICC and the Chambers and Main Street groups in both Independence and Coffeyville, I've observed small businesses and organizations struggle to "engage" their employees to enhance the relationships with customers, vendors and coworkers.   Although experiencing organizations with disengaged and dissatisfied employees is common, there are also the exceptions;  organizations with employees that excel in serving others seem to enjoy what they are doing while receiving a sense of  fulfillment in their work.  What makes the difference?

I have become convinced over the last couple of years that having a set of common, core values in a business or organization is an essential element to hiring and retaining employees that will be actively engaged in serving customers, vendors and coworkers in better and better ways while at the same time receiving a sense of purpose from their work.  Any time is a good time to start the effort to establish a culture of common values.  For new businesses, the absolute best time is to start just before or after the first employee is hired.  For existing businesses with one to many employees, there is no better time to start a new culture than right now.  Once the culture is established each new employee will embrace it. 

Character First provides a methodology of using 49 character traits as common values for the organization.  Each month, small groups within an organization studies the featured character trait and how it is relevant to the success of the organization.  Eventually, a culture of character develops which provides many of the common values needed for the organization to be most successful.  If you’re not familiar with Character First, there’s a great introductory video on the Character First web site:  http://www.characterfirst.com/

Character First Orientation Training is a full-day program that introduces Character First to business leaders in a way that explains, trains, answers questions, and practices techniques to help roll-out the Character initiative in an organization. Through lecture, Q&A and demonstration Character First materials are presented to lay the foundation of this culture shift. “At the end of the day, leaders will walk away knowing the steps to implement Character First in their organizations”, says Beau Bailey, training facilitator with Character First/Strata Leadership. LLC.

Please feel free to call me at 620-332-5470 with any questions you may have.

Jim Correll,
Facilitator/Business Coach
Independence Community College
Independence, Kansas