The Manager's Pocket Guide to Corporate Culture Change

Step B.Translate values and principles into norms and behaviors

• What it means:

— Anchoring values with concrete examples

• How it works:

— Choose 10 values that describe the essential character of your desired organization

— Operationalize those values with 3 to 5 norm statements

The Idea

Every value needs several norms to anchor it in reality. Without these normative anchors, it is impossible to implant the values or put the aspirations of your culture into action. For example, we may say we value respect, but what does that mean? Everyone may have a different image of what “respect” looks like or how it exists in day-to-day operations. Therefore, it is important to ground each value in a set of illustrative behaviors or norms that make ...