Any business leader can tell you that strong, effective teams don’t just happen. They have to be intentionally built and carefully fostered.
One strategy that can help leaders elevate their teams and create a cohesive work environment that produces results involves non-negotiables. This collection of fundamental values, standards, and expected behaviors can help leaders steer their ships to success.
Non-negotiables go beyond a simple set of rules for employees. Instead, they are the organization’s core principles that each team member should learn and pledge to uphold for the betterment of all. Non-negotiables serve to clarify expectations, create team unity and accountability, and give all employees a framework from which to build their work culture and day-to-day tasks.
“Every leader must identify personal and organizational core values that are never questioned. Given the leader has created an environment of clear expectations and communicated priorities which cannot be ignored, an internal understanding or agreement has already been struck,” says Jim Camp, Jr., a retired Major General of the USAF and co-owner and coach with Camp Negotiations.
Why non-negotiables matter
Teams within a working environment cannot function without clear structure and purpose. Non-negotiables provide both, allowing team members to have a clear idea of why the organization operates and what their ultimate mission may be. The results can be a more productive workplace, with team members collaborating in healthy and efficient ways.
Making non-negotiables work all begins with strong leadership.
“Once a leader has identified their non-negotiables, it’s not enough to simply mandate policy or demand compliance,” says Camp. “By seeking an agreement with their teammates while helping them understand ‘why’ something is important to the mission, the leader builds trust and connects with their followers.”
Non-negotiables help clarify expectations and priorities in the workplace. Building a cohesive team can be challenging when no one understands the expectations of their individual roles or the organization’s primary mission. Non-negotiables help the leader communicate these expectations effectively so everyone begins on the same page. Having clear, non-negotiable expectations also makes it easier to evaluate performance and outcomes.
Non-negotiables can also help leaders shape the workplace culture. Having a positive workplace culture contributes to less turnover and happier employees overall. Clearly stated non-negotiables that speak to workplace culture also help top talent find roles that align with their personal values, leading to stronger teams overall.
Perhaps most importantly, non-negotiables help an organization establish its identity in the market. A shared understanding of non-negotiable identity markets provides a firm foundation for building a successful, long-lasting, and profitable business.
Establishing non-negotiables
The successful establishment of non-negotiables all starts with leadership.
“A selfless leader who’s humble and truly devoted to the success of their teammates develops the cohesion necessary for the organization to succeed,” explains Camp. “Leaders who take the time to create an open dialogue around the ‘why’ a directive is important, and have a better chance of reaching an agreement.”
Successful implementation of non-negotiables involves defining the business’s core values, collaborating with all team members, communicating clearly, and leading humbly by example. The standards, protocols, and quality goals the business has agreed upon should be the basis of the list of non-negotiables.
When defining non-negotiables and determining how they will be applied, team members should have their input heard. This will build buy-in among the team and help create cohesion. Leaders should be prepared to describe the rationale behind the non-negotiables and how they help get work done successfully so that team members have a clear view of why they are doing the work they are doing.
“When a team discovers that they’re in place to benefit the entire team, the agreement to comply is stronger,” says Camp.
It’s most important that leaders set a good example. If they do not comply with non-negotiables, the chances are that their team will likely not comply either. By remaining a strong role model regarding non-negotiables, leaders help solidify a place for them within the organization’s fabric.
Non-negotiables go far beyond simple workplace policies. They are a strategic approach to getting teams on the same page and forming cohesive working environments that contribute to employee satisfaction and retention. Clarity of mission and values can be transformative for organizations, especially if they may have struggled in the past to bring teams together under a shared idea of effective culture and goals.
Non-negotiables can be the glue that holds teams together. By implementing and striving to carry out non-negotiables in the workplace every day, organizations can pave the way to productivity and success.