Foundation of Family
The key to a strong family is the same as strong building. While everything on we see on the outside is what gets all the attention the foundation is what is going to make sure it stands the test of time. Have you checked your families foundation lately?
I am sure at one point or another everyone has done it. Spent hours online looking at house plans dreaming of what would be the perfect house. We look at how many bedrooms, the style we want, or maybe you are looking for your dream kitchen. This is the glitz and glamor that we all look for in that dream house. Did you see all those great pictures of the foundation?
While these features are important and get most of the attention in our planning one of the most important parts of any house is the foundation. A foundation does not get all of the attention and I would bet you will find a lot fewer Pinterest results for dream foundations in comparison to dream house.
I will have to admit that I have never even searched for home foundations. Try it and tell me what you find. That dream home would be nothing without a good foundation. While it may look good on the outside for a little while, without the proper foundation the house will eventually fall in on itself.
A strong family organization gets its form and strength in the same way a house does. With a strong foundation that holds everything up and in place. Our family organizations need a strong foundation to build greatness on as well. We all want the glitz and glamour of a dream family and we often dream of that like we do a dream house. Much like that dream house, we need to pay attention to the foundation of what we are building.
Business with strong values uses them to guide the decisions they make. Take a look at Southwest Airlines, which is an organization that has seen incredible growth and success over the years in an industry in which all of its competitors have been in decline. Here are their core values.
Warrior Spirit 
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Work Hard
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Desire to be the best
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Be courageous
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Display urgency
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Persevere
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Innovate
Servant’s Heart
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Follow The Golden Rule
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Adhere to the Principles
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Treat others with respect
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Put others first
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Be egalitarian
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Demonstrate proactive Customer Service
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Embrace the SWA Family
Fun-LUVing Attitude
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Have FUN
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Don’t take yourself too seriously
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Maintain perspective
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Celebrate successes
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Enjoy your work
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Be a passionate Teamplayer
Work the Southwest Way
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Safety and Reliability
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Friendly Customer Service
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Low Cost
These are the values that they feel will help them fulfill their vision of what they want the company to be. “To become the World’s Most Loved, Most Flown, and Most Profitable Airline.”
So how do we determine our own family values? The first step is to decide where the family is going and we do so with our Mission or Purpose statement. Once we have the end goal in mind we work backward. What are the values we need to show as a family to reach that goal? Write these values down. Put them in a place along with your mission statement so all members of the family know what they are a part of.
Looking at any successful organization whether it be a fortune 500 company or the family down the street we see all of the glitz and the glamour. We see the house from the outside but under each successful organization is a strong family foundation of values that are lived every day. Take the time to lay that foundation for everyone involved. The stronger the foundation is laid in values the easier it is to build success.
Some great resources to help build your family’s values foundation
Top Companies For Culture and Values
Another great resource is our FamilyLead one-page business plan. It helps you get intentional about your family organization. It will help you lay out your family values and family mission as a way to get your foundation set in values and what you want your family to stand for. Get this as a free gift from our family to yours by simply subscribing. Not only will you get updates from us on tips and thoughts to lead your family organization but will also get our FamilyLead one-page plan to put together with your family and start building that dream foundation for your dream family.