Great cultures aren’t created overnight - and they certainly aren’t created in isolation. At Shipnet, we chose a different course: one that invited every voice onboard. What emerged wasn’t just a new set of values - it was a clearer sense of who we are and where we’re heading.
Just over a year ago, I joined Shipnet. One of my first missions as People Director was engagement. Easy right? People love working here! Except, when I looked below deck, something wasn’t quite shipshape (Maritime pun intended!).
There were pockets of brilliance - passionate people and great work happening, but when I asked about our Values and if they still resonated the answer was clear – no.
It turned out our Values – while well-intentioned at the start – no longer reflected the heart and hustle of the people who make Shipnet what it is.
So, we decided to do something about it.
Just as the propeller is essential to propelling the ship forward, we wanted our values to serve as our driving force - giving us purpose and direction in every decision we make and action we take. We wanted them to steer our direction, behaviours, and interactions. We wanted them to guide how we show up for each other, for our customers, and for the goals we’re all working towards.
Because without them, we’re just winging it.
And while winging it might work sometimes (we all wing it from time to time, don’t we?!) it doesn’t work so well for building a culture that’s strong, cohesive, and future-ready.
Values aren’t a slogan, a checklist or something we glance at twice a year during performance reviews! Values are the beliefs and behaviours we collectively commit to. They influence how we collaborate, challenge, support, and succeed together. They show up in decisions, big and small.
So back to the “we decided to do something about it” bit …
Instead of locking the Leadership Team in a meeting room, virtual or real, and emerging with a shiny new list of words, we did something braver… we took a totally collaborative approach. We didn’t dictate; we invited.
We asked our Shipnetters across all departments, locations, and roles to tell us their thoughts, opinions, feedback and vision. We ran collaborative sessions face-to-face, virtually and directly.
And we listened, we really listened.
To guide the process, we formed a Values Committee made up of volunteer Shipnetters across the business – true culture champions who acted as the voice of our people.
We listened. We debated. We laughed. And out of all those discussions, post-it notes, honesty, and heart, came something incredible.
Our true Values as built by us, all ...
Brave - We’re brave enough to take bold actions, make difficult decisions and embrace change
They’re simple, they’re strong, and they’re ours. Each of these was chosen because it reflects who we are at our best and who we want to be more consistently.
They’re relatable, real, and more importantly, liveable.
For our Shipnetters, these values are empowering. They give us a shared language and shared expectations of ourselves and each other.
For our customers, they’re the foundation of how we build trust – by being brave in solving problems, curious about their needs, kind in our interactions, and credible in our delivery.
This isn’t a People initiative – it’s a company mindset.
Paula Summers
People Director