Strategic Initiatives - Wheat Belt Identifies Company Values

You may recall one of our strategic focus areas is Culture and will continue to be through at least the beginning of 2025 when the Board of Directors reviews and sets the new Strategic Plan. One focus area was to define company values. In a 2021 Forbes article Brent Gleeson, contributor, defines company values as “the guiding light that bonds a team with a shared sense of purpose for achieving common goals. But defining values is one thing.” We worked with a leadership consultant to help us craft company values. Additionally, all employees were involved in defining what these values mean to the company collectively.

Respect Individuals - our management and employees define this value as: 1) The Golden Rule - treat others as you want to be treated, 2) Do what you say you are going to do, 3) Think of others instead of yourself, 4) Foster discussion and healthy conflict, not arguments, 5) Talk to people, not about people, and 6) Give values to others’ opinions and listen.

Produce Quality Work - we describe this value as: 1) Do it right, do it once, 2) Take time to do it right, 3) Ask for help, 4) Take pride in what you do, 5) BE SAFE, and 6) Take ownership.
Value Integrity - collectively we detail this value as: 1) Do what’s right for customers, Wheat Belt and your crew, 2) Do what’s right, not what’s easy, 3) Do what you say you are going to do, 4) Own it, in success or failure, and take corrective action, 5) Be honest and upfront, don’t lie, 6) Don’t gossip/spread rumors, and 7) Follow through with you work.

Prior to 2022, Wheat Belt did not have defined company values. Now that we have company values we have incorporated them into employee performance development and annual reviews. Additionally, we continue to use our values as a guiding light for decision making and customer interactions. “Your values and mission are what ultimately drive your team’s performance. When your core values are truly ingrained in your way of doing business, every decision will be made with those values in mind. This helps align every decision with your brand and what it hopes to accomplish. It creates accountability to yourself and others” states Steve Grau the CEO of Royal Ambulance. 

Wheat Belt Public Power District is committed to delivering electricity safely, reliably and efficiently by focusing on respecting individuals, producing quality work and valuing integrity for the great good of our customers and employees.