There is a problem with any company that says, "we focus on providing value" or "we are a value driven organization."

What do they mean?

There is no standardized definition of the word "value" in business. It's a relative term.

A company focused on "providing value for our shareholders," for example, may act very differently than a company focused on "providing value for our customers."  What's good for one is not always good for the other.  And when a company talks about "shareholder value" - is that long-term or short-term?  The decisions that drive one are often different than the decisions that drive the other.

And what does it mean to "offer your customers value?"  Does that mean the product will cost a lot but every penny is worth it because of the superior quality? Or does it mean that the product or service is really cheap?

To truly offer value, what you need to provide is information.  Let people know what you mean by value so that they can judge you relative to their wants, needs and desires.

"For people who value the ultimate quality no matter the price, we offer the value you desire."

"Want great value? You won't believe how much stuff you'll get for so little money."

"We focus on offering shareholders value on a quarterly basis."

And my personal favorite (because it's true), "Our company is focused on offering our shareholders the best long-term value because we value our customers even more.  And our customers should feel comfortable that they will always be looked after, because we value our employees the most."

Only use the word value when you clearly explain what you mean.  If you don't, people will quickly learn not to value anything you say.

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Everyone knows WHAT they do. Some know HOW they do it. But very few know WHY they do what they do.  Only those who know WHY are ones who lead.  Discover your Why at WHY University.