How can you identify companies that align with your values?

Values are lived experiences rather than words on a website. My north star is positive intent. It’s a value that is reflected in how a company treats its people, workers each other, and interactions with the outside world. It’s empathy, authenticity, and mutual respect. How to know if a company or person has positive intent? Use the “waiter” method. Watch how they act when in a position of power - such as at a restaurant or working with someone in customer service. Are they polite? Fair and understanding? Appreciative? Or do they berate a server? Stretch their momentary power? Skimp on tip? Are condescending? Align with good people with positive intent and the rest works out.

Listen to your gut. Remember you're worth alot and its a two way street. Ask questions. Two of favorites are how do you celebrate successes? And what are you most excited about right now!

Defining your values is a good start, and it's equally important to understand that there are shades and colors within those values. It's not just a flat line, it's a living landscape that ebbs and shifts along with you. So you need to identify where your gray areas vs. hard boundaries are. For example, someone who values worker flexibility may not like when companies don't allow them to work from home, but they could still be open to accepting it on a case-by-case basis. This is in direct contrast to a deeply held, inflexible value - something that's a hard line in the sand, no matter what the situational context is.

Outlining your own values is a good place to start, but remember that you want the company to value *you*. That's your number-one concern. The only way to figure out how a company regards its employees is by talking to some of them, and if that happens as part of the interview process, take everything they say with a grain of salt. Read all the Glassdoor reviews, and search for interviews with the CEO--preferably video interviews, so you can get a sense of who they are. Finally, try to find out if they've ever laid people off and how they handled it! When a company lets people go in a compassionate manner, you know there are decent people at the top.

Research and listen very closely. Research...read and view their social feeds. Look for what they say and support, but also what they don't say. Silence is often deafening, but you have to be careful. You can't judge a book by it's cover, right? But, you do need to investigate and then be prepared to ask questions to validate your observations.

In addition to online research, consider attending industry events, career fairs, or networking meetups where you can interact with professionals from different companies. Engaging in conversations and asking insightful questions can provide valuable insights into a company's culture, values, and reputation. Furthermore, reaching out to current or former employees through LinkedIn or professional networks can offer firsthand perspectives on the company's work environment and organizational values. By combining online research with real-world interactions, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of potential employers and their alignment with your values.

In a world where actions often speak louder than words, let's seek out companies that not only espouse positive values but live them every day, creating workplaces where people feel valued, respected, and empowered to bring their whole selves to the table. After all, it's these lived experiences that truly define a company's character and impact on the world.Inspiring positive change, one genuine interaction at a time.

Utilize platforms like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and industry-specific forums to gather insights into companies' cultures, missions, and values. Pay attention to how they communicate their goals, the initiatives they support, and how they engage with the community and their employees. This research phase was instrumental for me to align with organizations that valued high performance and ethical business practices.

In my experience, companies that walk their talk are the ones to discover, research, and emulate. I've bought tea from The Tea Spot, a B Corporation, for over ten years. Small businesses like The Tea Spot are my inspiration. Some enterprise businesses use giving as a marketing ploy. I am always looking for authenticity.

Use SWOT analysis to find companies aligned with your values: Strengths: Look for companies with strengths aligned with your values, like eco-friendly practices or ethical business conduct. Assess if their strengths reflect values such as diversity and community engagement. Weaknesses: Evaluate if weaknesses conflict with your values, like transparency or ethical issues. Opportunities: Identify companies grabing opportunities aligned with your values. Look for chances to enhance alignment, like expanding sustainability efforts. Threats: Consider threats that could undermine alignment with your values, like regulatory challenges. Evaluate how well companies address threats to their commitment to your values.

Make sure they use data to drive decisions vs. feelings of individuals. Insure they take a long view and disclose data rather than obfuscate. Also insure they practice non-discrimination, insuring that every employee, customer and partner is treated the same, with merit and enterprise value growth the only criteria for objective evaluation of individuals and decisioning. Do this and you will insure that a company does not virtue signal (and tank its share price + alienate 90% of people), but rather VALUE SIGNAL.

Beyond numerical scoring and SWOT analysis, consider conducting informational interviews with employees or alumni of the companies you're interested in. These conversations can provide valuable insights into the company culture, values, and work environment. Additionally, participate in company events or webinars to get a firsthand experience of their organizational ethos and values in action. Furthermore, consider seeking out testimonials or reviews from customers or clients to understand how the company's values translate into its products or services. By gathering diverse perspectives and experiences, you can make a more informed evaluation of how well a company aligns with your values.

There is nothing more insightful than speaking with past and present employees. You can chart companies' online personas, but unfortunately, that is sometimes a facade. Reach out to others through LinkedIn, and you will peel through the layers of the onion.

Reach out to current or past employees via LinkedIn or professional networks. Informal chats can unveil the company's true colors beyond the polished exterior of websites and press releases. These conversations were eye-opening for me, revealing the day-to-day realities and whether the companies genuinely practiced what they preached.

In my experience not enough diligence is done on verifying whether the values a company SAYS it commits to, actually hold true. Connecting with ex and current employees however is essential in getting a balanced view. Ex employees can, after all, give an unfair bias towards the negative sometimes. Look at their body language, ask open questions and let them lead the narrative until you pick up on a point that you want clarification on. Oh, and if appropriate, get them a glass of wine - sometimes words flow better then 😉

Another effective way to connect with people and gain insights into company values is on LinkedIn. Engage in discussions in relevant groups, ask questions, and seek advice from professionals who are affiliated with the companies you're interested in. Additionally, attend networking events, conferences, or industry meetups where you can interact with employees or representatives of these companies. Use these opportunities to build relationships, ask about company values and culture, and gather firsthand perspectives from individuals who are actively involved with the organization. By connecting with a diverse range of professionals, you can gain deeper insights into how well a company aligns with your values and goals.

Be mindful where you research companies. Some places like can attract feedback from disgruntled employees, whether it’s accurate or not. At the end of the day, all feedback is biased, even if it’s positive. Social media presence, how the company responds to negative consumer comments, who they donate to or support can all give you ideas on if the company is a fit for you but take feedback across various media to help get a broad picture. Chances are you’ll know if the company is a fit based on your very first encounter with their HR department.