Ethics expert Christopher Bauer shares tips for writing a values statement that promotes ethical behavior through an entire organization. To register for upcoming, free webinars hosted by i-Sight Software, visit http://i-sight.com/resources/

1. How to Write a Values Statement That
Encourages Ethical Behavior
Christopher Bauer, PhD, CSP, HSP, CFS
www.BauerEthicsSeminars.com

2. Christopher Bauer
Christopher Bauer, PhD is a licensed psychologist with more than
twenty-five years of experience in understanding how and why
people make the choices they do. Besides his expertise in ethics
and in making ethics both fun and funny for his audiences,
Christopher Bauer's unique style and contributions to the field
have led him to be recognized with the Certified Fraud Specialist
designation by the Association of Certified Fraud Specialists. He is
also a professional member of the National Speakers Association
and has earned their Certified Speaking Professional designation.

3. Poll # 1
My organization has a values statement and I can tell you exactly what it says.
My organization has a values statement and I can tell you some part(s) of it.
My organization has a values statement but please don’t ask me to tell you
what it actually says!
My organization either doesn’t have a values statement or I don’t actually know
whether or not we have one.

4. We All Have Core Values*
*We just aren’t usually very clear or honest about what
they actually are…

5. What Actually Are Core Values?
• Our most persistent, most important priorities
• The rules we follow when no one is looking
• The thoughts/wishes/drives that govern our
behavior as individuals and organizations more
than any others
• Who we really are as opposed to who we simply
want to say we are

6. What Is A Values Statement?
Our core values in a form that is:
•
Clear
•
Concise
•
Easily memorized
•
Easily applied
•
An honest statement of our most important, most persistent
priorities

7. What Isn’t A Values Statement?
•
Mission Statement
•
Vision Statement
•
Ethics Code
•
Code of Conduct
•
Policies and Procedures
•
A PR Document

8. Done Right, A Values Statement:
• Lets everyone – both internally and externally – know
your most important, most persistent priorities
• Lets everyone immediately and effectively self-evaluate
re: the appropriateness of their (and others’) behavior
• Tells everyone how to make the best possible decision in
the absence of other guidance

9. Why Bother? #1
A well-written values statement will drive a
culture of ethics and values by helping
assure that behavior is always aligned with
your stated values.

10. Why Bother? #2
Customer trust will be built and maintained
when customers know how you make your
decisions.
Is customer trust essential to your organization?
(Well, um, yes!)

11. Why Bother? #3
It gets everyone on the same page
when making management,
leadership, and customer-service
decisions.
Would your organization benefit if management,
leadership & customer service decisions were always
entirely aligned?
(This qualifies, I believe, as a ‘no-brainer’…)

12. Getting Values Statements Right
Part #1
It must be:
•Brief
•Concise
•Crystal Clear & Unambiguous
•Free of Slogans & Buzzwords

13. Poll # 2
I think the following would be terrific inclusions in a values statement:
•Integrity
•Creativity
•Passion for our work
•All of the above
•None of the above

14. Getting Values Statements Right
Part #2
Each item must:
•Apply to everyone equally
•Be able to be clearly ‘behavioralized’
•Be in the control of all employees
•Be relevant
•Be lacking in potential for unintended
consequences

15. Getting it Written Requires:
• Participatory input
• Slower is better
• Sending it ‘up and down the line’
• Understand what the ‘hard work’ is and do it
• Don’t, don’t, don’t ‘settle’!

16. Questions so far?
Send ‘em in…

17. Getting it Implemented Requires:
• Leadership support
• Management buy-in
• Exactly nothing you aren’t already doing
• Positioning your values statement as a true
‘touchstone’

18. Be Prepared For:
•“This is taking waaaaay too long.”
•“Come on – this is all just semantics.”
•“But we already have a mission statement.”
•“This is a job for our marketing and PR
departments. That’s what we pay them for!”
•“This is good enough...”

19. Questions?

20. Poll #3
Based on this program so far, I believe that a well-written, wellimplemented values statement could bring significant value to my
organization:
•Yes
•No
•Not sure

21. Only Do it If You’re Going
To Do it Right!
A poorly-written, well-implemented values
statement is a wildly dangerous thing.
A well-written and well-implemented values
statement will drive a culture of ethics while
focusing and streamlining management,
leadership, and customer-service initiatives. This,
in turn, strengthens your brand.

22. Additional Resources
Free Weekly Ethics Thought
Free Monthly Customer Trust-Building Tipsheet
Free Ethics/Values Culture ‘Opportunity Audit’
Request by email at: Chris@BauerEthicsSeminars.com
or via Webform at www.BauerEthicsSeminars.com.

23. For information on
Christopher Bauer’s other programs:
www.BauerEthicsSeminars.com
www.ChristopherBauer.com
or call
(800) 884-8569 or (615) 385-3523
Contact us at i-Sight
j.gerard@i-sight.com
Thanks!