ResutlsLab: Turning Values into Action

Dear Reader,

I was recently in a conversation about core values for companies. It’s highlighted in most business groups and accelerators, so I’ve been reflecting on what it means for us.
Our values are internal facing – those internal guideposts that help us regulate our behavior and interactions as a team. They also guide who we work with, and the products and services we develop. ResultsLab’s core values include Pursue Impact, Bypass Boundaries, Play as a Team, and Excellence with Balance.

So what, you might ask? The “so what” is that values help us filter who we will work with so that we don’t drift from our core purpose, and how we do that work to be authentic and to be our best. For example, for Bypass Boundaries our expectation is that the team thinks outside the box when thinking of solutions, ideas, products and services that will better meet the needs of those we work with. We do this because we believe this brings deeper impact, faster.

When we are working with our clients, we ask them to reflect on their values so that those values will guide their data practice and not conflict with how they intend to operate. For example, we often find our clients thinking about rigor in their data work (e.g., doing a quasi-experimental design and experimental design study, or utilizing thorough, validated surveys). Rigor is often in conflict with being a low burden to participants and with authentic participant engagement because it can require excessive time from participants in ways they don’t personally see the return. Yet, rigor may be important if you are intending to scale your program and you want evidence that what you are scaling is truly impactful. So what then? If participant-centeredness is a core value to an organization, then keeping this at the forefront when faced with a decision on the rigor of a research study will help provide clarity and guidance in making that decision. As you design a study, you will be focused on the decisions that will limit burden and increase participant voice in your process.

In regards to participant voice, a core focus of ResultsLab’s work, we will be offering a series of workshops on inclusive data practices. Fill out this form to share your interest in joining us and let us know what content would be most helpful to learn.

Together, we can turn our values – and intentions – into meaningful action.

Many Thanks,

Reading

The Art of Values-Based Innovation for Humanitarian Action - How to innovate in accordance to what we care about, and 3 principals to challenge ourselves to be explicit about our values and use them to drive innovation that will benefit all
The harm when data or algorithms have underlying biases, and the importance of DEI as a core value to your organization
Making Decisions on Values, Not Biases – “Contexts change, knowledge grows, and companies need to change accordingly, taking care to match unanticipated challenges with carefully considered values.”

Watching & Listening

Podcast: Turning Your Values into Action – “Just as much as you think you know it or you’ve said it or you’ve done it, repeat it 20 more times.” – Erica Courdae, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coach
How Great Leaders Inspire Action – One of the most popular TED Talks of all time
Coming Together to Accelerate Impact: How Action Learning and Knowledge Sharing is Better Serving Chicago's Youth – Upcoming webinar hosted by UpMetrics March 16, 2021 at 1pm EST