It has been shown that companies that are good to work for (as demonstrated by their employees) have consistently outperformed their contemporaries. In addition these companies show a tendency to have values that concentrate on creating and maintaining a positive culture. How can we be so sure about values and culture as this is historically thought to be impossible to measure?

In 1997, an innovative set of assessments that map the values of individuals and organisations was developed called the Cultural Transformation Tools (CTT). The CTT assessment is a detailed diagnostic report of an organisational culture and a roadmap for continuous improvement. The Cultural Transformation Tools are based on the Seven Levels of Consciousness model. They allow the organisation to measure the alignment of the personal values of the employees with those of the current culture of the organisation, and those of the current culture with the desired culture.

In 2000, a noted Australian Bank used the CTT assessment to understand its current values and to begin work on a programme of cultural transformation. Between 1999 and 2004, the level of employee satisfaction rose from 49% to 85%. The shift in values was accompanied by a significant improvement in shareholder value and profitability.

How can organisations use these tools? By measuring and understanding the cultural capital of the organisation the possibilities open up to work with the values of employees, releasing huge amounts of discretionary energy. Identifying what values are in your organisation both positive and potentially limiting will also allow leaders to build on the company's inherent cultural strengths and effectively manage the transformation away from limiting values.

It's a fascinating way to look at business transformation but it starts with the top so selling it to your leaders is the first step. If you are interested in finding out more about Cultural Transformation Tools call Unique Solutions. More information may be found at www.valuescentre.com