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Core values aren’t abstract ideals, they’re daily habits. Simple questions like “Where can I be helpful?” or “What am I missing?” help you live out values like Passion for Contribution, Occhiolism, and Ubuntu in real time.
Small habits = big impact. Choosing curiosity over defensiveness, empathy over frustration, and contribution over self-interest builds better teams and stronger culture.
Reflection and renewal keep you sharp. Quick daily check-ins help you course-correct, while small acts of rest prevent burnout and boost long-term effectiveness.
Start with one question. You don’t need to master everything at once. Pick one value-driven question to guide your day, and build from there.
Let’s be honest. Sometimes core values can feel a little abstract. Sure, Occhiolism sounds cool, but what does it actually mean when a customer is upset about a late order? How does Ubuntu help when you’re feeling defensive in a meeting?
All the deep conversations we have in culture meetings are great, but how do these ideas actually show up in the day-to-day?
Here’s the thing: living our core values isn’t about memorizing definitions. It’s about making small shifts in how we think and act every day. And while fully absorbing these values takes time, there are some simple ways to start practicing them right now.
Here are some easy (and doable) ways to bring our core values into your daily work and life.
Passion for Contribution: How Can I Be Helpful?
Passion for Contribution isn’t about chasing some grand, world-changing mission. It’s about showing up and finding small ways to make things better.
Try this:
- At the end of the day, ask yourself, “Where was I helpful today?”
- In meetings, listen for gaps. Are there things your team needs that pique your interests, or that sound exciting? Can you jump in and help?
- Shift your mindset: Instead of What’s in this for me? try How can I make this better for someone else?
A lot of meaning in work comes from feeling like we’re making a difference. And sometimes, all it takes is offering a hand.
Occhiolism: What Am I Missing?
Occhiolism is a thirst for understanding because you know your perspective isn’t the whole picture. This isn’t about doubting yourself. It’s about actively seeking more perspective and information.
Try this:
- Whenever you feel defensive about an idea or decision, pause and ask: What am I missing?
- When discussing a project, ask your team: What are you seeing that I’m not?
- To gather more perspectives, get in the habit of asking yourself or as a group: Who else would be a good person to talk to about this?
- When you come across a perspective that challenges you, lean into curiosity instead of shutting down.
You don’t have to agree with everyone, but being open to different viewpoints leads to better decisions, stronger teams, and, honestly, a little less stress.
Ubuntu: Am I Seeing People as People?
It’s easy to get frustrated with coworkers, customers, or even strangers when things don’t go our way. Ubuntu reminds us to see the human behind every interaction.
Try this:
- If you’re annoyed with someone, pause. Ask yourself: Am I seeing this person as an obstacle, or as a human with their own challenges and strengths?
- Before making a decision, consider: Does this make other people’s jobs easier or harder?
- When emotions run high, take a breath. Instead of reacting, try responding with understanding.
Seeing people as people, rather than just as coworkers, customers, or “that one person who always emails me at 4:55 PM,” makes work (and life) a whole lot better.
Reflection: What’s Working and What’s Not?
Without Reflection, we’re just running on autopilot. Taking a moment to pause helps us learn, grow, and avoid making the same mistakes over and over.
Try this:
- Set aside a few minutes each day to ask:
- What went well today?
- What didn’t?
- What can I do differently tomorrow?
- Before moving on to the next task, take a second to consider: Is there a better way to do this?
- After implementing changes on your team, take some time to reflect together and ask yourselves, What happened when we made the change? Should we tweak anything?
Reflection doesn’t have to be deep or time-consuming; it just has to be intentional. The more you practice it, the faster you’ll grow.
Renewal: Am I Taking Care of My Energy?
If you’re exhausted, frustrated, or burned out, you can’t bring your best self to work (or anywhere, really). Renewal is about recharging so you can keep showing up fully.
Try this:
- Ask yourself: What can I do today to make sure I have energy for tomorrow?
- Take real breaks. A few deep breaths, a short walk, or even just stepping away from your screen for a minute can make a huge difference.
- Don’t wait until you’re completely drained. Build little moments of renewal into your day.
It’s not about self-care for the sake of self-care. It’s about making sure you have the energy to do what matters long term.
Bringing It All Together
Living our values isn’t about huge, dramatic shifts. It’s about these small, everyday choices.
So, if you only take one thing from this, let it be this:
Pick one question to carry with you today.
- Where can I be helpful?
- What am I missing?
- Am I seeing people as people?
- What’s working and what’s not?
- How can I recharge so I can keep showing up?
The more we ask these questions, the more natural it becomes to live our core values, not just talk about them.
So let’s keep practicing. Let’s keep growing. And let’s keep making Redmond an even better place to work, one small moment at a time.
