What Teams Value Most

I’ve written and spoken on the subject of non-negotiables countess times this past year. It’s a topic we now cover with nearly every team we serve. What’s interesting is the themes that have emerged. Though the teams we work with are vastly different in their industry and their challenges – from retail, to heavy manufacturing, to technology and HR – their non-negotiables almost always include these four common themes:

• Integrity: Employees want honesty from their colleagues and from their leaders. They want to work with people who believe in them and who are for them.
• Communication: Follow through is so important…and quickly forgotten about. Always ask, “Who else needs to be in the know?” Then get them in the know! Everyone appreciates transparency and communicating with courtesy. Leaders at all levels need to be mindful of how their tone and body language comes across.
• Accountability: Each team has their own unique actions as to what accountability looks like to them, but it always includes the following two essentials: First, do what you say you will do, and second, hold yourself accountable first.
• Teamwork: Work together, share best practices with one another, and don’t leave a teammate hanging. Strong teams are like strong marriages: they take intentionality and hard work but are well worth your time and effort.

What non-negotiable would you add to this list?