Company Values: How a Purple Wall Changed Everything

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In this episode, Sue engages in conversation with Matt Streeter, Chief Financial Officer for North Country Healthcare (NCH), and interim President/CEO of NCH affiliate Weeks Medical Center, to discuss the critical role of mission, vision, and values in cultural transformation within rural healthcare. They explore how these elements guide decision-making, inspire staff, and shape organizational culture. Matt shares his experiences in developing value-based behavior standards (including the “purple wall” story) and emphasizes the importance of employee engagement in this process. The conversation also highlights the significance of commitment to these standards and how they can be used as tools for leadership and accountability. The episode concludes with advice on personal values and the importance of taking action without striving for perfection.

• Engaging employees in the development of values and standards of behavior fosters ownership.
• The Purple Wall story illustrates creative approaches to value-based behavior standards development.
• To be useful and impactful, standards must be actionable and relatable.
• A show of commitment to the value-based behavior standards is crucial for cultural transformation.
• Recognizing and rewarding behaviors reinforces organizational values.
• Feedback should be omnidirectional to maintain supportive accountability.
• Personal values will guide individual behavior and leadership.
• Cultural transformation requires ongoing effort and adaptation.
• Don't strive for perfection; just start taking action.

Listen to Matt’s prior podcast episode - The Role of CFOs in Culture Change - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2315930/episodes/14533048

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Hi! I’m Sue Tetzlaff. I’m a culture and execution strategist for small and rural healthcare organizations - helping them to be the provider and employer-of-choice so they can keep care local and margins strong.

For decades, I’ve worked with healthcare organizations to navigate the people-side of healthcare, the part that can make or break your results. What I’ve learned is this: culture is not a soft thing. It’s the hardest thing, and it determines everything.

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