How to Align Your Business with Your Own Values Successfully
Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
Business success from a faith perspective is achieved by aligning your business with Biblical principles and values. As you honor God with the way you run your business and seek His wisdom and guidance in business decisions, He promises to establish your plans.
There are many ways Christian businesses can align their personal and organizational values and make their businesses a testimony to their faith. It's important to note that embracing values over profit at all costs does require trust that God will reward your integrity. However, this verse from Proverbs holds that very promise for those who are willing to put God first.
What Are Values?
Values are the beliefs and principles that guide an individual or business's priorities, actions, and decisions. They define the individual or business's sense of identity and their perception of what is important. They also set the tone for how others will relate in the home or business.
Biblical personal core values can include things like:
Respect
Honesty
Justice
Fair dealings
Generosity
Compassion
Humility
Joyfulness
Excellence
Hard work
Family
Health
Rest days
Tithing
Seeking divine guidance
Introducing others to God
Personal morality
Personal growth
Obedience to authority
Environmental and social responsibility
Biblical company values include the same values as those listed above, embraced and expressed at the organizational level. For example, a company's values could include:
Seeking divine guidance for business decisions
360-degree respect in the workplace
Honesty in advertising and business contracts
Fairtrade, organic supply chain
A learning culture rooted in humility
Tithing, charitable giving, and philanthropy
Generosity toward low-income customers
Commitment to employee well-being
Joyful and compassionate customer service
Closing on Sundays (or Saturdays, depending on your denomination)
Subtle forms of Biblical outreach
Community programs
Environmental repair programs
Sustainable practices
Benefits of Aligning Personal and Organizational Values
Aligning your personal and organizational values has numerous benefits:
Stronger Commitment to Vision
Just as committing your actions to God brings success, aligning your business goals with your faith and values establishes a strong foundation for growth.
Trust in Success
Believing that success is part of God's plan encourages persistence and resilience in the face of challenges.
Enhanced Employee Engagement
A values-driven culture that is aligned with the personal values of the company's employees creates a strong sense of purpose and belonging and enhances motivation and engagement.
Greater Well-Being
Aligned values allow business leaders and employees to experience a sense of congruence and integrity at work. This reduces stress and leads to increased happiness and well-being.
Stronger Company Culture
A well-articulated set of core values strengthens the company's culture and creates a cohesive work environment. This cohesion helps employees feel connected and supported and increases the likelihood of attracting and retaining top talent.
Ethical Decision-Making
Value alignment in the workplace provides a clear moral compass and rubric for decision-making. Employees will be more likely to make ethical choices, act with integrity, and uphold the company's reputation. We will cover these topics and much more on our podcast. Join our community for an insider look into our podcast before its official launch and request details about our membership options for ongoing support in your journey as a Christian business owner.
How to Align Your Business with Your Values
Entrepreneurs need to be intentional in making their business and personal values align from the very beginning of the brainstorming process through to the succession or sale of the enterprise. The following practical steps will help you align your personal and organizational values:
Identify your personal values and the Biblical principles that shape your life. The list we provided earlier is a good starting point for this exercise. You may also want to add some values of your own.
Re-express this list of values as corporate values. The list we provided is also a great starting point for this exercise. For example, "rest on Sundays" could be re-expressed as "close the business on Sundays." "Honesty" (in general) can likewise be re-expressed as "honesty in marketing" and "transparency in the wording of contracts."
Brainstorm practical ways that your business can embody these values. This often translates to decisions regarding how your company utilizes its resources. For example:
Chick-fil-A closes its stores every Sunday and makes its uniform shirts from recycled plastic bottles.
Habitat for Humanity requires its U.S. affiliates to give 10% of their unrestricted income to the organization's global ministry.
Practical expressions of your values can also involve subtle actions that introduce your customers to God. For example, In-N-Out Burger and Rose Acre Farms (Goldhen Eggs) print Bible verses on their product packaging.
Look for others who share these values. It's much easier to embody your commitment to putting God first in your business when you work with others who share the same values. Articulating your values clearly from the beginning and discussing them in job interviews will ensure you and your employees are on the same page.
Articulate your company's values clearly and loudly. Include your list of Bible-based company values in your foundational documents, website, job advertisements, and training materials. This keeps them ever-present and attracts employees and customers who share these values.
Set an example. Values are only meaningful if company leaders walk the talk. Your employees will look to you as an example of how your company values are to be applied.
Train new hires in your company values. It's essential to provide new hires with specific training about your company's values and provide plenty of opportunities for practice. This may include things like customer service role plays and establishing a clear process for requesting or offering discounts to low-income customers or clients.
Assess alignment regularly. A company may express certain values at the beginning but slip into practices that don't align with those values over time. It's essential to assess alignment periodically and identify things that need to be corrected to make sure you stay on course.
Invite and accept feedback. Feedback from employees and customers provides insights into what is and isn't working and is a great source of ideas for how your company can better embody its core values. For example, an employee or customer might suggest a supplier that is more ethical than your current supplier or know of a local charity that your company would probably love to support.
Commit Your Business to God through Aligned Action
Aligning your business with your values and committing it to God is a matter of being intentional and proactive. There are an infinite number of ways you can express your faith and beliefs in your business practices, and also a large number of businesses that demonstrate what an aligned company can look like.
The benefits of aligning your personal and professional values include happier and more motivated employees, a stronger organizational culture, and greater resilience in the face of challenges. However, the greatest benefit of aligning your business with Biblical values is knowing that God will have your back.
Related Verses
Proverbs 29:18
Matthew 7:24