The Business Core Value That Guides Everything We Do
When I reflect on what has shaped Digital Harvest, one principle stands above the rest: Kindness over Everything. This core value that defines our business has guided my husband Avram and me through rewarding partnerships and challenging ones, ensuring that kindness is the constant in how we work, grow, and lead.
Kindness has always been one of our core values, and it took on even greater significance after we experienced a particularly difficult business relationship that highlighted how crucial it is to have company core values that support your long-term vision. It reaffirmed the importance of aligning our personal values with the organization’s core values, especially in high-stakes situations.
There’s a lot about that experience we’d rather forget, but it taught us something important: kindness isn’t optional in business. It’s a must-have that leads to employee satisfaction, stronger partnerships, and better outcomes.
In this blog, I’ll share how kindness became a core company value at Digital Harvest, how to spot when it’s missing, and how to lead with empathy while still protecting your boundaries. Ultimately, this isn’t just about our story. It’s about helping business leaders like you hold to your own values, foster trust, and build a company culture that supports the entire workforce.
Kindness Is the Backbone of How We Do Business
At Digital Harvest, kindness shapes our business practices and influences our decision making at every level. For us, it’s more than just being pleasant. Kindness means honest communication, maintaining emotional maturity, thoughtful leadership, and honoring our commitments, even when it’s uncomfortable.
This principle is rooted in our fundamental beliefs and forms the foundation of our corporate values. Kindness drives how we give feedback, manage relationships, and evaluate partnerships. These values aren’t just words; they’re the filter we run every client interaction through.
Take, for example, a situation with a former partner who reacted aggressively over a missed expectation. It quickly became clear that their belief systems did not align with ours. They lacked emotional maturity, leading to reactive communication and an unstable working environment.
At Digital Harvest, we try to lead with kindness in everything we do. Whether it’s giving tough feedback, letting someone go, or ending a partnership, you can do all of that with kindness.
That interaction highlighted the power of effective core values, not only to drive clarity but to protect your work environment and employee experience. When your core values examples show up in your actions, you create a workplace that supports engaged employees, team member growth, and employee commitment, no matter how challenging the season.
The Absence of Kindness Is a Serious Red Flag
Looking back, the glaring lack of kindness in our failed business partnership should have been our ultimate red flag. It revealed a complete misalignment in company values, exposing cracks in trust, communication, and respect. It showed up in:
- Blame-shifting
- Threats and manipulation
- A refusal to have open conversations
- Frequent emotional outbursts
- A lack of transparency in basic processes
This kind of behavior was toxic. It not only impacted productivity, it also shook the well being of our team. That’s when we recognized the need for strong company values that could protect us, especially during conflict.
One moment stands out. Avram and I were at a Montessori school visit with our son when angry messages started coming in. We were still meeting deadlines, but the tone of the messages made it clear. They didn’t value clear communication or shared understanding.
That moment forced us to acknowledge how the status quo can harm everyone involved when company’s purpose and guiding principles aren’t respected.
Kindness Also Means Saying No
Kindness isn’t just about how you treat others. It’s also about honoring your own boundaries and values. One concept we embrace is “velvet ropes”—our way of reinforcing manageable expectations that preserve our peace and keep us focused on implementing core values in everyday interactions.
Saying “no” can be the kindest thing you do when requests push your limits or compromise your values. It creates equal opportunities to protect not just your team, but the business as a whole.
In one difficult moment, Avram was ready to give in to unreasonable demands. But I said, “No, Avram. This is where we make our stand.” That was a turning point, not just for us, but for how we lead.
Holding the line allowed us to develop stronger systems and become a more successful business, grounded in great core beliefs that ensure alignment from day one. It’s one way we keep moving the company forward without sacrificing our company’s identity.
What Kindness Looks Like vs What it Doesn’t
Saying “No” clearly | Avoiding hard conversations
Honoring contracts | Ignoring red flags
Giving feedback with tact | Blaming and berating
Boundaries aren’t walls; they help build healthy and lasting relationships.
Protecting Your Peace and Business Values Is a Leadership Skill
Protecting your peace isn’t selfish. It’s a form of leadership. When we walked away from that failed partnership, we weren’t giving up. We were choosing integrity, honoring our values, and creating space for continuous learning and in depth reflection.
That decision led to a series of updates, including contract revisions, policy changes, and a renewed focus on ethical practices. Now, every partner signs an agreement that reflects our company’s mission and clearly defines roles, expectations, and non-negotiables.
These actions reinforced our business strategy and ensured better alignment with future collaborators. By standing firm in our values, we improved customer satisfaction, reduced burnout, and built deeper employee engagement.
We Do Business Differently and It Shows
Today, our business reflects great core value alignment across all areas—contracts, team culture, client relationships, and beyond. Our company stands for something real, and that matters more now than ever.
To my fellow entrepreneurs and business leaders, I urge you to prioritize values over short-term wins. Your core value system will not only define your workplace but also set the stage for sustainable success.
Don’t Compromise on Kindness and Company Core Values
If something feels off in a partnership, pay attention. That discomfort is usually your values warning you. Trust your instincts. Your existing values were built for moments like this: to help you navigate difficult choices and preserve what matters most.
When your values resonate through your business, your clients, team, and partners feel it. They know what you stand for, and they know what to expect. That’s how real trust is built.
If you haven’t revisited your examples of company values recently, take a moment. Make sure they still serve your goals. Update them where needed. Implement feedback from your team. And always remember: your unique values are a strength, not a liability.
Curious how it all played out? We share the full story plus behind-the-scenes insights on boundary setting, values alignment, and navigating red flags in Episode 86 of the Babies and Business Podcast.
