Joseph's "Just My Thoughts"

DuPont, a global chemical company, has one core value: Safety. The company is well known for adhering to its core values which stem from its historical background. DuPont began as a gunpowder manufacturer during the American Civil War. In 1884, DuPont's CEO, Lammot du Pont, was killed in an explosion. This accident stimulated the catalyst for DuPont's realization that safety should be a core value of the company. Here's a true story as an example. Two DuPont employees were on an overseas business trip and needed to take a taxi to a meeting, but the taxi only had seat belts on the passenger side. They would be late for the meeting, but DuPont policy dictated that only one person be put in the cab while the other took a different cab. Core values represent a company's identity and mission, and complying with them is a crucial challenge for any organization. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

We remember Apple founder Steve Jobs as a strong leader with a stubborn streak and charisma, but he also consistently upheld the company's core values as its leader. While developing the iPhone 4, Jobs wanted to incorporate solar charging. Still, Apple's engineers disagreed, arguing that the technology at the time, would make the iPhone thicker than previous models and compromise the company's core value of simplicity. When confronted, Jobs gave up to stand his ground and listened to the engineers. The most important thing about leadership is not charismatic authority, but defining the company's core values and complying with them, even a highest-level officer. It's not a matter of power, but of defining core values and ensuring that everyone in the company has common interests in their meaning and that this understanding is shared internally. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”