Value in a Business
For founders, business partners, owners, board members and enterprise leaders
Understanding value in a business
The Value in a Business perspective focuses on the value exchange between a business owner, partner, or founder and the business they have invested in. We assume that you went into business, or invested in a business for a reason. Sometimes the reason and the associated expectations and aspiractions are not clearly defined and visible. This can impact how well you make decisions, how you relate to partners, peers and staff and how intentional you are about the direction of the business.
This perspective helps you clarify what you expect to contribute to your business and what you seek to claim or create in return. It helps you act with intention in a relational, financial, stratetic and personal context.
Why it matters
When owners and leaders are clear on the value they offer to the business and what they expect to receive in return, they have a clearer sense of purpose, alignment and strategy direction. Value clarity brings into focus the tangible and intangible benefits of ownership — not just profit but meaning, fulfilment and legacy. This means confusion is reduced, alignment strengthened and decision-making improved.
A Value Exchange Ledger™ helps make expectations and aspirations visible, shfiting from assumptions to shared understanding that is translated into strategic goals. A Value Creation Plan, extends the ledger to an actionable plan for creating value for yourself and those that matter to you. (And there are more methods and artefacts in the hub for value-based conversations in a business context.)
The value element cards are a key tool, providing a vocabulary for conversations about business intentions and return — helping align decisions and desired outcomes across the people who share investment or responsibility.
Questions that are explored:
- What am I contributing to the business? Is it what I want to contribute? What do I want to contribute?
- What do I expect to claim through my involvement in the business?
- What does my involvement in the business allow me to create for myself, for others who matter to me, or with others I work alongside?
The concept of value exchange
Hear founder and creator Helen Palmer, share about this simple and powerful concept as it relates to a business context.
VIDEO COMING!
Business value element cards
- 75 value element cards for business context
- Instruction booklet for the Business Value Exchange Ledger™ method (simple version)
- Business Value Exchange Ledger™ sheet (A4 printed; printable PDF)
Cards available in printed and digital formats (English only).
Resources to go deeper
Dive into these free resources to deepen your understanding
Read ‘A Value-based Approach for SME Enterprise Strategy’ – COMING
Explore value(x)™ methods for a business context
Roles for a business context
The business context will be particularly meaningful to people in these roles.
Business owner – COMING
Organisational change practitioner
Shapeshifter
Change management practitioner
Ready, set, go!
Opportunities for you to explore value in a business