When I speak at our City of Greeley new employee orientation session every few weeks, I make it a point to tell them, “You have a life.” Not a work life and a home life, but one life with many facets. Our hope is that by integrating our organizational core values into all facets of their lives, they will add more value into their own lives and the lives of others.
Our core values include: Applied Wisdom, Excellence, Accountability, Stewardship, Principled Relationships, and Integrity. We use WE ASPIre to remember those values. They really are guideposts, because if you can live these every day or at least begin today to integrate them into your life, it makes a world of difference. A very positive difference both at work and at home.
We all know that no one is perfect – that we all have areas where we can improve. I have taken this to heart with a personal challenge to recognize my shortcomings and work with our department directors and others to help all of us improve.
My current resolution is to work on the Accountability value, where rather than “calling someone out” for making a mistake, I will “call them up” to their potential to help them succeed. When I’ve been successful applying this value, I will know I’ve provided sturdy guardrails that helped the employee. The department directors and I desire to instill the core values so that we will have healthier, happier and more productive employees.
Resolve with me to add value in your life and the lives of all those you interact with daily.
Happy New Year!
Roy H. Otto, City Manager