Why?
Sometimes we do not like this question.
Finding an answer is tiring and possibly disappointing. However, when we go to the root cause of our desire, it brings many useful results.
So, why do you want to build a startup? Do you have a good reason?
Understanding truth shows you the right direction. Building a startup is not only about numbers, product, and business model. Also, it requires predefined values. What is vital for you, your team, and humanity?
Lack of values, directly and indirectly, affected my failures in startups. Actually, I had them in my mind, and likely my teammates too. However, there were probably different preferences. So, in this post, we are going to discuss what are the drawbacks of not having predefined values:
- Separated understanding😕
- Responsibility differences↖️💪🏻↗️
- Losing motivation easily😒
Congratulations! As this blog follows the brevity principle(quality of being brief), you are at the second level!😊
Separated understanding 😕
When you do not record essential ideas, milestones, and decisions that are necessary for you, they can be bent, blurred, and disappeared easily. Therefore, values too. We prefer to avoid talking about them from the beginning. Maybe other people will reject me because of my ideas. No! That’s the wrong attitude.
Suppose it will be later with much more stress; better to have a discussion right now, without hesitation. How do others project the future? What are essential personal values and dreams? Without values, there could be arguments among team members, which is the most unwanted case.
In addition, having well-defined values can foster trust among team members. When everyone shares a common understanding of what the company stands for, it becomes easier to envision the future and work towards a shared vision. This clarity of purpose can provide direction and serve as a guiding light for the team as they navigate the ups and downs of building a startup.
Wow, you are at the third level. Let’s play a game!😉 I bet you will read till the end. I trust you!🫂 The show must go on!🌠
Responsibility differences ↖️💪🏻↗️
When a startup lacks predefined values, it creates confusion and uncertainty around the roles and responsibilities of team members. Without a clear understanding of the company’s values, each individual may interpret their responsibilities differently, leading to conflicts and misunderstandings.
For example, if one team member believes that customer satisfaction is a top priority, while another person values profit above all else, they may clash when it comes to decision-making. This lack of alignment can lead to a lack of accountability, as team members may not feel responsible for actions they disagree with.
In another case, imagine a business co-founder focused on finding product market fit. However, the tech co-founder and team prioritize development by focusing on details and slowly building a product. Then in that situation, time is lost, and the team lags behind the progress. The business side requires to enter the market as soon as possible, and the tech side extends deadlines every week. Having a value of Delivery or Timeliness may solve the prioritization problem and keep moving forward.
One more risk, without clear values to guide decision-making, team members may make decisions based on personal preferences rather than what is best for the company. This can result in a lack of focus and direction, making achieving the company’s goals harder. As seen, having values may serve as the constitution and carry advantageous outcomes.
Losing motivation easily😒
Without values, the team may give up easily. That’s fair enough. The members have their own understanding of reasons to build a startup. What do they care about? What do they want to achieve with their startup? What kind of change do they want to make in the world? If members cannot find answers to those questions, they may feel disconnected from their work and struggle to find purpose in their roles.
In addition, without shared values to guide decision-making, teammates may feel that their work is not aligned with the company’s goals or values. This can result in a lack of motivation and engagement, as they may not see the value in their work or feel that their contributions are not making a meaningful impact.
In this post, we discussed the importance of predefined values that show direction, make responsibilities available for all, and keep the team motivated.
I hope you enjoyed reading! Do not forget to define your startup’s values, and remember to ask – “Why?”
Congratulations! You nailed it! I wish you a wonderful day🌻
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