The Art of Developing Organizational Principles

Principles are generally value-based guidelines that inform thinking, decision-making and behavior. That is true for individuals as it is for organizations.

What an organization adopts as principles are usually values held by those with power and influence within the organization. Great organizations build their culture collectively. So individual principles are very important as they shape what is to be organizational culture.

Why are principles so critical to organizational success?

Organizational principles provide guidance on operations, and workforce behavior. They let everyone know what the organization is all about and what standards it upholds. They promote a shared understanding of values and expectations and guide actions in situations not covered by detailed rules or protocols. Principles are the values that are non-negotiable for organizations.

In strategic planning, principles inform the organization’s values which are critical to how the organization operates. They help ensure consistency and integrity across teams and programs. They define the “how” and “why” behind decisions, beyond just policies or procedures and provide the guiding light from which they are grounded.

When developing a policy or framework for how your organization will behave, principles are the tangible actions and behaviors your organization is committed to. For instance, when developing an anti-racist and anti-oppression (ARAO) policy and framework, principles guide the ways the organization will behave to counter racism and oppression. Establishing guiding principles must be a very intentional exercise, so that it does not become just a performative exercise. For example, very seldom, if ever, organizations include the “skillful management/exercise of power” as a principle. I am often met with surprise when I identify managing power skillfully as one of the most critical principles in ARAO work.

At Share knowledge, we work with individuals and organizations to deeply explore what is at the core of their desire to change.

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