August 28 2023
By: Shawn M. Galloway
Most large corporations understand the importance of shaping culture by prioritizing the creation of desired beliefs, behaviors, and values. Organizations' most common approach is to develop and communicate the values important to shape business decisions. These are often referred to as core values. But how core are they? 
Whether true or not, beliefs are how we see the world and what we experience. Behaviors are what someone does, says, how they say it, the words they use, their body language, and their work product. They are observable acts. Values are principles or the standards we set for desired behavior and what we judge as important.
I frequently encounter three types of company values during my work with clients:
- Core — what the organization judges as important and you find listed along the organization's mission and vision
- Situational — what an employee experiences when the core values are demonstrated, but often this is the exception, not the rule
- Operational — what people most commonly experience while conducting their work
Consider the values employees experience within your company. Which ones are core, situational, and operational?
"When you know something to be true in your very core, there is no need to shout it from the rooftops." — Basetsana Kumalo
"Leaders, companies or individuals guided by situational values do whatever the situation will allow, no matter the wider interests of their communities." — Dov Seidman
"The question is not, do you have conflicts? The real question is, are you aware of your conflicts?" — Abhijit Naskar
Shawn Galloway, CEO of ProAct Safety, is an expert in safety excellence. With almost thirty years of experience, he is a highly sought-after advisor, keynote speaker, and expert witness. Shawn has become a trusted partner to leading organizations across various industries worldwide. He ranks in the top 1% of the most prolific writers in his field, having authored over 500 articles and several bestselling books. He also launched the world's first safety podcast, Safety Culture Excellence©. As a recognized authority in safety, Shawn has received awards such as being named among the Top 50 People Who Most Influence EHS and a Top 10 Speaker, among others.
He is a regular guest on Bloomberg, Fox News, The Daily Mail, Dubai One, U.S. News & World Report, Sirius Business Radio, Wharton Business Daily, and leading safety magazines and podcasts. Shawn also serves as a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, Forbes Business Council, and Fast Company Executive Board, enabling his influence to shape safety thinking and strategy at the executive level.
