The People Strategy Podcast · 2025-05-15 · 22 min
When you think about core values in your workplace, what comes to mind? A few words painted on the breakroom wall? A mission statement buried in an onboarding deck? For many organizations, especially in fast-paced, high-pressure industries like the trades, core values become background noise. But if you're leading a team, here's the uncomfortable truth: your culture isn't built by what you say you believe. It's built by what you tolerate. And if those values aren't actively guiding behavior, they're not values - they're decoration. So, how do you make core values actually work? How do you turn them from empty statements into a foundation that builds trust, accountability, and long-term growth? John Knowlton has spent years helping leaders get clear on what drives their teams. With a background as a United Methodist pastor and a business coach for trades and service companies, John understands that values aren't just about inspiration - they're about alignment. According to him, culture is not defined by what's printed on your website. It's defined by behavior. And too often, leaders create unspoken double standards.
Episode 214: Gratitude-Driven Leadership: Closing the Chapter with Traci Austin28 / 100Episode 213: Meeting People Where They Are: Lessons from Rolling TidesEpisode 212: Engineering Spaces for Belonging: The Power of Intentional Culture-BuildingEpisode 211: Elevating Our Tradespeople: Building Culture, Clarity, and Passion on the JobsiteEpisode 210: From High Turnover to High Commitment: How a Janitorial Company Became a People-First Powerhouse