Chapter’s Core Values Identified,
Ratified by Administrative Council
Mike Murray
By: Mike Murray, STC Fellow
The STC Florida Chapter’s Administrative Council has identified and officially adopted the six core values that best represent how we perform work and conduct ourselves.
The writer polled AdCo members, who were asked to select from a comprehensive list of values, and winnowed the results down to six core values which the voting AdCo formally accepted at its April meeting.
The Florida STC Chapter’s core values are:
Caring
Education
Excellence
Teamwork
Vision
Volunteering
The core values of an organization are the values we hold that underlie our work, govern how we interact with each other, and determine which strategies we employ to fulfill our mission. We have an entire universe of values, but some of them are so primary, so important to us, that throughout the changes in society, government, politics, and technology they are STILL the core values we will abide by. In an ever-changing world, core values are constant.
Core values are not descriptions of the work we do or the strategies we employ to accomplish our mission. They are the practices we use (or should be using) every day in everything we do. Core values are also known as guiding principles because they form a solid core of who you are, what you believe, and who you are and want to be going forward.
Following is a detailed Values Statement expanding on our community’s six core values. The Values Statement is archived as “Our Values” on the pull-down sub-menu under “About Us” on the chapter website.
Two further additions are proposed before the end of 2018: a Vision Statement and a Mission Statement. These will, in essence, define how we translate our core values into specific goals and then realize those goals with results.
In the write-ups for each core value in the Values Statement, the core values are in initial caps for emphasis. You will also notice some other words in initial caps and quotation marks. These are additional values suggested as possible community core values during the poll of the AdCo that were subsequently determined to be covered in the final six core values selected. The write-ups explain the thinking that went into the down-select as we zeroed in on the final six.
How We Use Our Core Values
Navigating Treacherous Ethical Shoals is a Delicate Balance of Core Values
A Delicate Balance. Core values drive tough ethical decisions, both as an
individual and as an organization.
Analyzing complex professional issues to make ethical decisions is a complex process for an individual, even more so for an organization. Resolving ethical conflicts to find a solution that does the most good (or the least harm) is like navigating perilous shoals. Core values are the lighthouse that guides us to safe harbor.
There will come a time, as there always does, when we are faced with a difficult decision. Don’t go for days or weeks, as we sometimes do, talking and thinking, trying to make the “right” decision. Instead, take the time to refocus on our core values, and the answer quickly becomes apparent. Core values are what support the vision, shape the culture, and reflect what an organization values. They are the essence of our identity.
Debra began her presentation by stressing the numerous opportunities students have to network in college. “There’s never going to be a time quite like college, when you’re surrounded by thousands of amazingly smart and interesting people,” she says, “so get to know the people you think will change the world someday.” At the same time, Johnson reassured students that networking isn’t nearly as hard as it looks; most people are very willing to talk about their careers and passions. She offered the idea of a “cold email,” where students can inquire about jobs with curiosity and respect, and discussed meeting with professors for further information. “If there’s a subject area you’re interested in, don’t be afraid to go to professors in that field; they love talking about their work and meeting young people who are just as interested.” Debra also said there is great value in even the seemingly small part-time jobs and internships many students take for granted. “Today’s barista is tomorrow’s high-powered ad executive, so don’t discount anybody along the way. Use your time at work to get to know people and ask questions.”
