I know in a previous blog posting, I really touched on the concept of DNA. In other words, "If you cut our organization, what do we bleed?" In a more businesslike idea, this would be core values. In a complex organization that is healthy and effective, it is essential that we have a visible vision which I wrote about last month. While I use vision and mission interchangeably, at Hoover they mean the same things: the essential destination that we are journeying towards. Yet, this is the 20,000 foot balcony view. The vision being visible is a core part of this effectiveness, but it is not enough. It also takes core values that drive the vision and give more life, depth, and generates more movement. Without the core values, the visible vision just becomes another abstract idea that is too broad to really drive any performance within your organization. Bottom line, the core values are the next step that truly drives the visible vision to action and makes it foundational in words and actions. If the vision is your heartbeat, the core values are the blood the flows through your organization and brings it to life. So what are Hoover's core values? What do we bleed if you cut us?
1. We do what is best for kids
Nuff' said right? This is often the mission/vision statement for many schools who follow the concept of being brief and concise to a fault. It is a wonderful concept, to the point where we have signs that state this above most of the office doors and meeting rooms at Hoover. However, there is a big word of caution here; this is a broad statement that has a million shades of grey. When used in isolation without more context and specificity, this core values can actually cause more conflict and strife in your school. However, with collaboration from other specific core values that can frame and give context, this concept will create magic within a school. The reason it is first is because it is the most important. But it is also ineffectual without the next four to provide a frame and lens to view it through.
2. We are a culture of excellence
Back when I was still a band director, we used this as a core value with our musical ensembles and we defined it simply: when we do the small things well, the big things take care of themselves. I have found this to be true throughout the many complex organizations that I have worked with. Yet there is one contextual caveat: keep the main thing the main thing. Sometimes we can get bogged down in the details, but if we keep the main thing the main thing (visible vision) while doing the small things well, the organization thrives. Doing the small things well while doing what is best for kids? Now we're cookin'.
3. We are leaders
Being a Leader in Me at Hoover Middle School has truly transformed our culture and how we approach the education of children. We know leadership is a choice and it all centers around finding the gifts and talents. But what made this even more effective was switching our paradigm to include our staff. When we expect the adults to be leaders by accessing their gifts and talents and choosing to be leaders, the school finally found the missing spice to the recipe. Doing what is best for kids, while doing the small things well, while being effective leaders? This brings the vision to life.
4.We are family
As much as this is a core value that we use to frame our actions and propel the vision, it also becomes an outcome. When we follow a visible vision with the other core values, the staff and students really start to become a family. And what do we define a family as? As Lilo and Stitch said, "Ohana"-Nobody gets left behind.
Culture is defined as what most of the people in an organization do most of the time. We take pride at Hoover that most of our people most of the time believe and follow these core values to truly bring our visible vision to life.
Stay tuned for next month when part 3 of this blog will explore the "commitments" it takes a family to keep the core values and visible vision at the center of all we do.
"Anything that changes your values changes your behavior." - George Sheehan
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