Why it's important to align on values from Day 1
The importance of agreeing on core values and operating principles of your co-founders from the beginning
Most founders understand that aligning on the vision of the product and company in the beginning is important.
But what a lot of founders, myself included, forget to do before even starting the company that trips them up later is an alignment on values, which can include operating principles. Not what you’re building, but how you’re building it.
And not even necessarily the company’s values (though that’s important too), but their own personal values. How they act, how they communicate, and what they believe in.
It’s not important to agree on everything—it’s hardly important to the business that your co-founder really loves the outdoors and wants to live on a remote ranch—but there are certain subjects that are very important to discuss before launching your startup. One of the more common ones is work ethic and schedule. Some people care a great deal about having a solid work-life balance and only working from 9 to 5. Some people don’t care as much and would happily work 8 to 8. But if you don’t agree on that (or can’t accept that the other person works a different schedule and has alternative expectations), then resentment will inevitably build between the team.
For me, I care a LOT about communication and being honest with my co-founders and co-workers. If that’s not there, I feel like I can’t be 100% myself and thus work at 100% capacity.
Everyone has at least a couple of values that they care about. If you don’t know yours, you should do some introspection and define them explicitly. Then, make sure you and your co-founder(s) agree on your hopefully shared values. Not all of them will be super important, so you don’t have to be 100% aligned. But absolutely make sure that your big ones are covered. In many ways, it’s sort of like entering a romantic relationship. Say “hey, let’s make sure we agree on how we’re going to work together and build this company”, share 2-3 core values, discuss if there are any big differences or conflicts, and go from there. No need for fancy frameworks or mental models.
If you have this conversation before you REALLY go off and build the startup, you’ll save yourself a lot of tough late-night conversations and under-the-surface tension in the future. If you’re very proactive, you can even have this conversation roughly once a year. People change, and sometimes our values change over time, too.
So, to the early stage founders out there, please find the time to have this serious conversation with your co-founder. Make sure you’re both building the thing together in a way that you agree on. Don’t put it off.
- Indra, January 2023
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