Collaboration and Teamwork Through Shared Values Alignment
A few years back, I worked with a team that seemed, on paper, to have it all. Each member was highly skilled, experienced, and driven. Yet, no matter how often they came together to collaborate, something always seemed just out of sync.
Deadlines were missed. Communication broke down. Frustration grew.
Only when we sat down and started an open conversation about what really mattered to us, as individuals and as a collective, did magic begin to happen.
After we shared our values, I noticed that assignments were streamlined, collaboration soared, and communication was effortless.
It was then that I realized that leveraging the commonalities between team members was the answer to us working like a well-oiled machine.
Shared value is a business theory introduced in Harvard Business Review that links economic growth to social behavior. Shared values are the invisible threads that keep a team together, driving cooperation and teamwork as you work toward a common goal: the company's success.
Why Shared Values are Important for Collaboration
“the purpose of the corporation must be redefined as creating shared value, not just profit per se. This will drive the next wave of innovation and productivity growth in the global economy. It will also reshape capitalism and its relationship to society, and legitimize business again as a powerful force for positive change.” - Michael Porter and Mark Kramer, Harvard Business Review
It isn’t a coincidence that some of the most successful teams across sports, non-profits, and corporate environments have one thing in common—aligned values.
When I started my non-profit, SheCAN!, in 2018, I interviewed dozens of women to be on our board of directors. The ones I ultimately chose all had the same purpose: to support women in becoming the best version of themselves. Our core values were born from that common goal: education, growth, and community.
With those shared values, we successfully ran programming to help thousands of women across the country grow and thrive in areas that were important to them. This could not have been accomplished without the board's support, all working toward the same end result.
How Shared Values Reduce Conflict
Aligned values reduce conflict by eliminating unpredictable behaviors so everyone operates on the same playing field. For example, when team members choose to prioritize integrity, curiosity, or adaptability, it does away with the friction caused by clashing expectations.
How They Enhance Communication
The presence of aligned values also fosters open communication. When people approach their work with shared priorities in mind, ideas flow freely, concerns are addressed, and active listening takes place.
I’ve witnessed this firsthand in my workshops on aligned values, where teams that clarify and prioritize shared values become magnets for a safe environment for exploration and dialogue.
The Tangible Benefits of Shared Values
In my corporate days, I managed several different people, which meant many meetings with many personalities. I noticed, without fail, that the same few people continuously dominated the floor without little regard for other team members. The more this happened, the more the mood shifted into an almost hostile atmosphere.
I decided to present a core value to our team: Better together. I first asked if everyone agreed to it (they did). Then, I posed the question, “How can we work to continuously exemplify this goal?”
A new rule came into play: everyone would get a turn to speak in meetings.
Right away, I noticed something transformational happening. First off, engagement skyrocketed. People who had been quiet before started opening up with ideas, and their insights were incredible. Even better, when everyone shared, we got a clearer picture of what was happening. We started understanding each other’s pain points, challenges, and, most importantly, solutions.
Company Values Should Mirror Team Values
Think of popular companies that have strong slogans:
Apple: "Think differently.”
Starbucks: "Inspire and nurture the human spirit.”
Coca-Cola: "Refresh the world. Make a difference."
Tesla: “Accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy.”
Disney: "Create Happiness."
Pretty straightforward, right?
Organizations that present shared values in their marketing can attract recruits that resonate with the company’s mission. When those employees are hired and work alongside leaders and colleagues who have accepted the same values, concrete outcomes happen.
Beyond theory, here are some specific benefits I’ve observed through my work with teams and leaders:
Motivated employees
Stronger engagement
Independence
Flexibility
Client/customer satisfaction
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Even the best teams can hit rough patches when they’re not rooted in shared values. Sometimes, the problem starts small, like miscommunication about what matters most to them individually. Maybe one team member values creativity while another is focused on efficiency. Without clear conversations to bridge those gaps, tensions simmer, and work suffers.
When teams hit these tough spots, leaders have the power to guide them back. Start by doing a value check-in.
Ask your team, “What’s most important to us right now?”
Create forums for honest conversations where people can address conflict head-on.
Walk your talk by modeling the values you want others to follow, even if stress is high.
And don’t forget to shine a spotlight on small wins that align with your values. Sometimes, just stopping to celebrate how far you’ve come can remind everyone why they’re in it together.
Shared Values Can Unlock a Team’s Potential
By aligning on what truly matters, teams can transform chaos into clarity. They become more than just groups of people working toward the same goal; they become united forces driven by purpose and trust.
Collaboration begins with intention. It’s not about perfection. It’s about showing up for relationships and goals that matter to everyone. If you and your team are struggling to align your values, contact me for workshops and training opportunities.