The KSF Values System
Naming & Owning Your Team Values
Why Values Matter
Every team has values - the difference is whether they were selected intentionally or by accident. When values remain unnamed team members struggle to understand the why behind behaviors, resulting in a culture that doesn’t reflect what the team truly aspires to be.
The impact of alignment is measurable: employees who report a strong connection to their company’s values are 43% more likely to feel a sense of personal accomplishment in their work (Qualtrics). Intentionally defining shared values is the first critical step toward higher engagement, faster decision-making, and reduced operational friction.
But "Values" can feel like an abstract burden when you're starting with nothing but a blank sheet of paper and a room full of diverse perspectives.
Structure is soothing. I offer a simple, rigorous starting point: a Value Sorting Framework designed to help your team align on the non-negotiables that drive great work and great engagement.
Jump to the instructions to get started on your values sprint.
Download the KSF Values Worksheet
Sign up for the KSF newsletter for monthly deep dives on topics like this and get the worksheet for free.
The KSF Values Card Deck
A more tangible and interactive way to run the values sort activity. These cards are high-quality art pieces that you’ll be proud to have on your desk. Right now, they are still cooking, but you can be the first to know when they’re ready. Sign up for the KSF Newsletter and join the waitlist!
A beautiful professional tool - perfect for team workshops, personal reflection, and as a centerpiece on your office desk.
This will be a limited first edition run of only 20 decks. Be the coolest kid in the office and get in early.
Built for Rigor & Grace:
Inspiring Photography: Each suit is anchored by original swallow photography by professional artists.
Premium Craftsmanship: Printed on high quality game card stock with a soft-touch linen finish.
The Anchor: Housed in a custom swallow-branded tin, making it a permanent and portable addition to your leadership toolkit.
What’s Included:
51 Value Cards: Each with a curated definition to standardize your team’s vocabulary and cut through ambiguity.
2 Wild Cards: For the unique, unnamed values that define your specific team culture.
Instruction Card: A quick-start guide to running the 60-minute Team Values Sprint.
The 60 minute Team Values Sprint
If you have one hour and a blank whiteboard, you can significantly reduce team friction. This sprint is designed to help you name your shared values and achieve better alignment.
The Individual Audit (15 minutes)
Ground the work in personal truth. Distribute the Value Mapping Worksheet. Every team member independently circles the 10 values that they feel are most critical to the team’s current mission.
Tip: Don’t overthink! Your hunch is a signal of what really matters to you.The Pair Exchange (15 minutes)
Surface areas of tension and alignment. Pair up and compare where you overlap and where you differ with your partner.
Tip: If there are values that feel in tension, discuss these conflicts: “If I value speed and you value quality, how do we handle a tight deadline?”The Group Alignment (20 minutes)
Consolidate the non-negotiables. As a full team, move to the whiteboard. List the most common values surfaced in the pairs. Through a quick round of "dot-voting" or open debate, narrow the list down to a final set of 3–5 core values.
Tip: If a value under discussion won’t help you make a difficult decision, consider cutting it.The Suit Audit (10 minutes)
Check for the blind spots. Look at your final values and check with suit they fall into. Are they clumped together or distributed?
All Ascent? You’re innovators - but look out for a lack of stability.
All Vector? You’re navigators - but look out for over-analysis.
All Roost? You’re builders - but look out for stagnation.
All Flock? You’re a community - but look out for groupthink.