The Relationship Between Business Value and Business Success

Into The Shadows with Jon Reynolds

In this episode of Monster in My Closet, Anil and Morgan explore the intersection of mission, vision, and values in the corporate world with guest Jon Reynolds. They discuss how organizations can establish and operationalize values that go beyond words on a wall, emphasizing the importance of transparency, harmonization, and scalability in both business planning and cultural development. Jon shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, providing actionable advice on balancing short-term and long-term planning, aligning goals with values, and fostering authentic leadership. These show notes include:

Key Take-a-ways

Research and Statistics

Key Takeaways

Operationalize Values: Embed values into everyday actions and decisions by creating systems that support them. Example: Use awards and communication channels to celebrate employees embodying company values.
Focus on Experience: Prioritize both employee and customer experiences to drive engagement and satisfaction. Conduct regular reviews to align processes with this focus.
Establish Cadence: Set regular intervals (weekly, monthly, quarterly) for planning, evaluation, and communication to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
Simplify Systems: Eliminate redundant tasks and build infrastructure to scale. Example: Automate data entry to free employees for higher-value tasks.
Invest in People: Provide opportunities for learning and development, and maintain transparency to build trust and retain talent.
Embrace Harmonization: Approach mergers and acquisitions as opportunities to combine strengths and create something better rather than enforcing conformity.
Balance Risk and Opportunity: Assess risks realistically while actively seeking growth opportunities to avoid being overly conservative.

Research and Statistics

Value-driven organizations perform better: A study by McKinsey found companies with strong, operationalized values are 3 times more likely to outperform their peers financially.
Experience matters: Deloitte’s research shows that 80% of employees would choose a company with better experiences over one offering higher pay.
Planning impacts success: Businesses that regularly review and adjust their plans are 30% more likely to grow according to a study by Harvard Business Review.

Suggested Reading

Start with Why by Simon Sinek – Understanding the role of purpose in leadership.
Measure What Matters by John Doerr – Implementing OKRs to align goals with values.
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown – The importance of authenticity in leadership.
The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni – Operationalizing values for competitive advantage.
Good to Great by Jim Collins – How discipline and alignment create lasting success.

Wrap-up

Establishing and operationalizing core values isn’t just about creating a mission statement; it’s about living those values through actions, systems, and decisions. As Jon Reynolds shares in this episode, values serve as an anchor during times of change, guiding organizations to build cultures and strategies that align with their core beliefs. By focusing on transparency, harmonization, and scalability, businesses can foster authentic leadership, retain top talent, and create environments where employees and customers thrive. If you’re looking to bridge the gap between words and actions, start by asking yourself, "Do your systems support the values you stand for?"