HIALEAH, Fla. – Power 1 Credit Union literally rolled out the red carpet to launch its new "Values" program. Geared to help promote a better work environment and member service, the program revolves around seven core values – Sales is Service; Take the Initiative; Show Respect for Everyone; Empowered to Resolve Issues; Encourage a Fun Atmosphere; At with Honesty and Integrity; and Insist Upon Accuracy and Accountability. "We were looking for a way to get the organization behind something and we started thinking about what are some of the principles we want our employees to have that could also be used for recruiting," said Power 1 CU Senior Vice President Sales/Service Brian Warfel. "The more we thought about it the more we liked the idea of setting a few values to live by." Incorporating their ideas with proven research from a few successful companies that had the culture Power 1 CU wanted to reinforce, senior management met weekly over a few months to narrow down the credit union's essence. Power 1 CU President/CEO Henry M. Prior then sent an e-mail to all staffers that there would be a mandatory company meeting at Don Shula's restaurant in six weeks. "It was great that employees had no idea what the meeting was about and there was certainly no indication that it would be a fun event," said Warfel. "So when they saw the red carpet and ropes, senior staff dressed up as ushers, concession stands complete with popcorn and various movie posters, it helped transform the room into something from an Emmy awards night. It was just a great surprise and set the right tone to unveil the values." After introducing each value ,the team showed a 30 to 40 second movie clip that exemplified it – a scene from Bruce Almighty to demonstrate empowerment or Braveheart as a lesson in respect. To build on the excitement each week following the event focused on a different value and daily value stickers were provided to every employee. In addition, the employee newsletter features real "living the values" stories. The values are also part of the new employee orientation and have been incorporated into the performance appraisal. Employees and management alike are rated on how well they reinforce the values. "We also hand out `We care about you" buttons as a way to tie it all together and the member response has been amazing," said Power 1 CU Marketing Analyst Christine Swensson. "Members see it and are at first taken aback, then touched and they ask for their own stickers. It is also a great reminder for everyone if they're having a rough day to focus on why we're here." With employee retention a priority, Warfel says the program has also been a boon to the new hire interviewing process by providing a set of guidelines that helps better identify and match potential staffers who will grow with the organization. "One of things we're noticing is when it comes down to it the values are the personality of this organization and each individual either contributes or detracts from that personality. So we start asking screening questions such as what do you like to do for fun or how do you define respect and describe a situation where you showed respect and if someone passes all seven points then we trust they'll be a great fit for the organization. We all know there are some people that dazzle at the interview but then when it comes to the work they don't deliver. The values help limit that," said Warfel. He adds that since the values have been instituted if an issue comes up everyone takes ownership and follows through. "While the values talk is great it is more about how people's actions have changed as they take hold of the values," said Warfel. "For us as senior management we need to be more conscientious how we conduct ourselves the organization won't have fun if we don't and the organization won't be respectful if we're not with each other and so on. Our CFO came from commercial banking and after the values launch and the Halloween party he came up to me and said `it was outrageous and he could never imagine a commercial institution doing anything like this' and he liked the difference. So we're on our way to balancing fun while still driving the point home." [email protected]