How to Get People to Accept Your New Values

The podcast discusses how to implement and enforce core values within a company, particularly when dealing with long-term employees accustomed to older practices. The speaker emphasizes the importance of open communication, explaining the rationale behind changes and encouraging employee ownership and accountability through one-on-one meetings. He suggests that while change may be initially resisted, clearly communicating the benefits and enforcing the new values can lead to greater employee buy-in and a more fulfilling work environment.

Communicate Changes Clearly

• 00:00:56 The speaker advises that leaders should openly communicate changes to their team, explaining the reasons behind them. It's vital that employees understand why changes are being made, particularly when those changes involve shifting away from older practices and toward new core values. This transparency can help mitigate resistance to change and foster a sense of understanding.

Employee Ownership & Accountability

• 00:06:39 The speaker emphasizes the importance of fostering an 'employee owner' mentality. One of the most challenging core values is responsibility, and it can be difficult to convey its importance. The speaker suggests individual one-on-one meetings as an opportunity to gently but firmly address behaviors that are not aligned with desired values, encouraging employees to view themselves as owners and act accordingly.

Resisting Change is Normal

• 00:02:39 People resist change that they don't understand or perceive as good, states the speaker. He draws an analogy to car upgrades, highlighting that people often resist change until they see the benefits. The speaker encourages leaders to share the rationale behind changes and explain why they believe the changes are positive. This clear explanation can minimize resistance and garner employee acceptance.

Gentle but Firm Enforcement

• 00:07:01 The speaker advocates for a gentle but firm approach to enforcing core values. Utilizing one-on-one meetings, leaders can address discrepancies in behavior privately and clearly. The goal is to communicate expectations while fostering a supportive environment. While leaders can extend grace in certain situations, they must maintain consistency in holding employees accountable for adhering to the new values, ensuring that the core values aren't just words on a wall.

Embrace a New Culture

• 00:09:56 The speaker concludes that leaders need to clearly communicate a new culture and expectations. It's okay to be gentle but firm. If employees don't want to align with the new values, that's their choice. However, the speaker emphasizes that the new culture is the way things are done, offering coaching and teaching to help employees adapt. He suggests that understanding the context behind employees' actions, such as personal challenges, can inform a more compassionate response.