Identifying brand values
There are several ways for organisations to 'surface' – or make explicit – their brand values.

For example, working with a facilitator, a small group of employees is brought together and asked to consider a series of questions such as:

• What are the values of your brand?
• What core values do you personally bring to work? (That is, the values are so central to you as a person that you would hold them regardless of being rewarded.)

This procedure can be used to produce insight about brand values. To obtain additional insight, another workshop session could be held. A facilitator might explore the visible manifestations (photos, brochures, packaging and so on) of the brand and formulate hypotheses about what core values are common across them. In the workshop, examples of such material could be presented and the group encouraged to talk about their assumptions of their brand's values from examination of the materials.

 

Another part of this workshop might relate to 'critical events' for the brand. The participants could be asked to think back about the history of their brand and to identify any critical events and actions taken, to stimulate conclusions on what inferences could be drawn about their brand's values.

The challenge would then become one of identifying which are the few core values.

Core versus peripheral values
The procedures outlined above will produce numerous values. Managers need to be clear about which are their core values, that is, those that will always be a central characteristic of their brand regardless of the external or competitive environment.

An example of a brand being true to its core value but allowing its peripheral values to change is the American retailer Wal-Mart. Its core value of exceeding customer expectations has been continually emphasised by each generation of management, yet one of its original peripheral values - welcoming customers - has been relaxed as customers' expectations have changed, so customer greeters are no longer always used.

To identify which of their values are core values, James Collins and Jerry Porras (authors of Successful Habits of Visionary Companies) encourage managers to ask the following questions:

• Would the team want to be true to these values for the next hundred years, regardless of environmental change?
• Does this value provide a clear guide for behaviour, communication and continuing development?
• Is this value credible and consistently achievable?
• Does this value set your brand apart from competitors?

In addition, we would add the questions:

• Is this value based on some logic?
  
• Is this value understandable and able to inspire staff?

Strategic use of brands
Identifying core brand values is an essential strategic activity for any organisation. The brand acts not only as the basis for setting internal objectives, but also as a guide to internal behaviour, enabling staff almost to sense what they should (and should not) do in order to contribute to the brand's success. For this reason, senior managers use their organisation's brand to stand for a clear set of values, helping staff appreciate desired types of behaviour. This is particularly evident in the services sector (for example The Hilton Hotel) and the not-for-profit sector (such as the Red Cross).

One of the contributing factors to a brand's poor performance is a lack of consistency in the staff's perceptions of its values. It is very important that there is an internal communication programme before any external communication. Furthermore, it is wise to communicate any brand changes to all staff, regardless of whether or not they have direct contact with clients or customers. All staff act as ambassadors for the organisation's brand and it is important that they all present similar and consistent messages about the brand.

Many experienced organisational leaders believe that brand is the most important part of an organisation's assets, and need to be cherished and nourished to ensure organisational success.

"We believe that the most important assets of United Biscuits are its brands. Buildings age and become dilapidated. Machines wear out. Cars rust. People die. But what lives on are the brands."
- Managing Director, United Biscuits

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