What are Espoused Values, and Why are They Important?

What are your espoused values? This is a question that is important for individuals and organizations to ask themselves. Espoused values are the values that a person or company declares to be believed and desired.

They are what we stand for, guiding our decisions and actions. Therefore, it is essential to define and understand your espoused values because they represent who you are as a person or company. This blog post will discuss why espoused values matter and define them.

What are Espoused Values?

Espoused values are the values that an organization or individual declares to be believed and desired. This is frequently seen in mission statements, presentations, taglines, and other corporate materials. They are not meant to direct how workers within the organization work but instead to inspire them to work and behave consistently with the espoused values.

Espoused values also help to create a sense of identity for an organization. By stating what they stand for, organizations can develop a sense of community and shared purpose among their employees. This can encourage workers to be more invested in their work and feel proud to be part of the organization.

Why do Espoused Values Matter?

There are many reasons why espoused values matter. First and foremost, they provide a framework for making decisions. When faced with a choice, individuals can ask themselves, “would this decision be consistent with our espoused values?” This helps ensure that actions align with the organization’s beliefs and goals.

By clearly understanding what espoused values are, individuals and organizations can make sure that their actions are aligned with their core beliefs and goals. Furthermore, they can create a strong sense of community and purpose among their employees.

This can be invaluable in motivating workers to do their best and be proud to be a part of the organization.

How do you Define Espoused Values?

To define your espoused values, start by thinking about what is important to you. What do you stand for? What do you believe in deeply? Next, write down all of the things that come to mind when you think of the word “value.” Next, look at your list and circle those still important words to you. Then, narrow your list down by picking the top three to five most important values. These are your espoused values. There’s strength in making our values visible through naming and displaying them.

An excellent way to find out your espoused values is by looking at how you spend your time and money each day. Think about what activities or purchases make you feel the best and bring you happiness. These are likely indicative of your espoused values.

When it comes to defining your espoused values, there is no wrong way to do it. The important thing is that you take the time to think about what matters to you and align your actions with those values. Doing so will help you live an authentic life and bring you success in your personal and professional lives.

At first, espoused values may not be basic underlying assumptions unless they are consistently implemented and repeatedly demonstrated over time.

What is an Espoused Purpose?

A purpose is a goal or an intention. It is something that we strive for in life. An espoused purpose is what someone declares to be their ultimate goal.

The values and beliefs of a company, organization, or group of people who share similar interests or beliefs are referred to as the company’s espoused values.

The word “espoused” describes something spoken about, declared, or professed. In other words, it’s the publicly stated purpose of an individual or organization.

When a company declares its espoused purpose, it becomes its north star – the thing they are working towards and striving to achieve. It provides a framework for all decisions and actions within the organization.

When individuals declare their espoused purpose, it becomes a guiding light in their life – the thing they are working towards and striving to achieve. It provides a framework for all decisions and actions within that person’s life.

What are the observable artifacts espoused values?

The visible artifacts of espoused values are the physical manifestations of a company’s or individual’s values. They can be found in how a company or individual dresses, communicates and behaves.

For example, if one of an organization’s core values is respect, you might see employees wearing name tags so they can learn each other’s names or hear them saying “hello” to one another as they walk by.

If an individual values family time, you might see him spending his weekends at home with his wife and children instead of going out for drinks every night as most people do.

Difference between Espoused values and Enacted values

It is essential to understand the difference between espoused values and enacted values. Espoused values are an individual or organization’s declared, desired, or professed values. Enacted values are the values that a person or organization lives by. There may be a discrepancy between these two types of values. However, these values form the footing for organizational culture. 

For example, an organization may espouse the value of customer service but fail to provide adequate training or resources to employees. In this case, the enacted values would differ from the espoused values. Organizations need to be aware of this discrepancy and close the gap between their espoused and enacted values.

How do you turn espoused values into enacted values?

It is one thing to have espoused values, but it is another to put them into practice. Enacted values are the values that an organization or individual lives by. These are the values that guide day-to-day decisions and actions.

There are a few key steps to turning espoused values into enacted values:

First, it is vital to make sure that everyone understands and agrees with the values. This includes employees and customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders.

Second, it is essential to create a company’s culture that supports and reinforces the values. This means developing policies and procedures consistent with the values and encouraging and rewarding employees to behave in line with the values.

Finally, it is important to review and update the values regularly. As an organization changes and grows, its values may also need to change. By staying up-to-date on the latest trends and developments, organizations can ensure that their values remain relevant and meaningful.

What are Basic assumptions?

Assuming is defined as taking something for granted or believing something without proof. In organizations, there are two types of assumptions: basic and espoused. Basic assumptions are so deeply ingrained in an organization’s culture that they go unnoticed. On the other hand, espoused values are an organization’s publicly stated values and standards.

Basic assumptions are often unspoken and can be challenging to change. They are based on the shared basic assumptions of an organization’s members and usually remain stable over time. On the other hand, espoused values are more visible and can be more easily changed. Organizations may espouse values that they do not live by, but sustaining this inconsistency over time is more complicated.

Final Thoughts

Espoused values are the values that an organization or individual declares to be believed and desired. They are essential values that guide our decisions and actions. It is necessary to define and understand your espoused values because they represent who you are as a person or company. Therefore, they significantly influence how a company operates and how employees function.

In this blog post, we discussed why espoused values matter, turned them into enacted values, and kept them up-to-date. By following these tips, you can ensure that your espoused values genuinely reflect who you are and what you stand for.

What are your thoughts on espoused values? Do you have any tips on how to create or maintain them? Let us know in the comments below!