What is at stake?
As highlighted by The Galion in their report on company values, this is about expected actions and behaviours within a company. In the case of aspirational values, they represent a reference or an ideal to strive for.
Why is it important?
The initial work of defining company values and culture is done by the founders (see Co-defining Values and Culture Among Founders)
At the Seed stage, as the team grows, it becomes necessary for each team member to identify with the values formalized by the company.
Three actions to take right now
1️⃣ Include in the onboarding process the drafting of an astonishment report on how the new team member perceives the company, its culture, and its values.
2️⃣ Define a code of conduct and values to establish the framework for employees' actions.
3️⃣ Plan a team exercise to iterate on the values proposed by the co-founders.