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Reflections on JoyCorps' Values
At JoyCorps, our values (Joy, Understanding, Integrity, Collaboration, and Empowerment) are fundamental to us because they define our identity, guide decision-making, and shape our culture. Our work, as well as that of the entrepreneurial leaders we collaborate with, often goes against the grain, challenging the norms of both business and nonprofit sectors. Therefore, our values take on an even greater significance for us, serving as a compass as we navigate the less-traveled paths. We recognize that our values are aspirational yet actionable commitments that we strive to live out in our work and daily lives. In writing this blog, the JoyCorps team came together to share their thoughts and insights on values and their role in our lives and work.
"In my time at JoyCorps, it is these values that have made the people I work with quite real. While sharing, everyone accepts their vulnerability, and that being human isn’t easy. It makes the workplace more relational than transactional. I am learning that our values are not mere theoretical words. They are lived experiences that matter. It doesn’t just matter to us, but those around us - our families, our colleagues, our nations, our community. In a sense, these are critical for the society that Tagore* once dreamed India would be. Personally, these values give me a framework to be aware of who I am and who I am meant to be. These are critical values that I have often overlooked in my own journey, getting caught up in jobs, career, etc. These, I feel, have begun to ground me more as a husband and as a father." - Liris
Our values are defined in the JoyCorps Playbook. This internal guidebook articulates expectations and methods to produce an efficient, empowering, and life-giving team/work environment so that every person can thrive. In the following segment, we invited JoyCorps’ Tenzin and Shalem to read the definition of each value in our Playbook, and then reflect on the values from their personal experiences.
Joy: It is the core of who we are, the first part of our name, and our desire for each person. It is a natural outflow of someone who is thriving.
"For me, joy is a choice. I must choose to be joyful, or I will very quickly lose it. Joy comes from trust, contentment, and rest. Joy stays in the midst of doubt, when navigating through uncharted waters, and through life's uncertainties. Multiple times a day, we need to check on our personal joy quotient. " -Shalem
Understanding: Understanding demands slowing down, taking time to listen, asking questions, and deeply caring. We are deliberate in humbly “standing under” others’ opinions and worldviews.
"Understanding takes humility. It requires me to move beyond my boundaries, my understanding, and my perceptions, and to be willing to hear the other person. It is an attitude of my heart; I must ensure that I am genuinely interested and that I am not just hearing the other person without allowing the content to sink in. " -Shalem
Integrity: We do the right thing. When something is done with integrity, it is done authentically, wholeheartedly, honestly, and consistently. From the word “integral”, which means whole and undivided, integrity makes someone trustworthy.
"Integrity is not a destination but rather a daily practice that helps us align our strategic goals with our partners in mind. At JoyCorps, I think we live this value when we stay focused to our mission while designing programs, when we communicate clearly to set the right expectations, when we create space for the team to freely and safely speak their minds, and when we update our partners and donors with transparent reporting. " -Tenzin
Collaboration: Without collaboration, none of what we do would be possible. We believe in the power of working with other individuals and organisations, and because of it, we are richer. Collaboration makes us diverse, relevant, and agile as we work.
"Collaboration, again, is a reflection of the heart. Collaboration, at times, is formed with unexpected connections and people. Along with humility, it also takes a great deal of courage to partner with another person for a common good. Collaborative efforts can often lead to pleasant surprises and lasting friendships. " -Shalem
Empowerment: Every person should be able to live up to their full potential. However, not everyone has the opportunity to do that. Empowering someone to live fully is a great privilege.
Empowerment is where we allow people the space for mistakes, and then provide the right tools to help people use their creativity to learn from those mistakes. I see this happening at JoyCorps every day. I joined with very little understanding of what it meant to work for an Entrepreneur Support Organization. The thing that helped me grow was the trust I was shown, the constant nudges to try different roles and responsibilities, to learn, to follow when I needed help and to lead when I was ready. To me this is how empowerment takes shape. It begins with learning, supporting, rising and sometimes stepping back to unlearn and relearn again and again. -Tenzin
With the Playbook acting as a guide for our organization’s culture, how do these values actually show up in our daily work and our interactions within the team and outside of it? The culture of an organization is a dynamic entity that constantly forms and evolves, whether the people of the organization are thinking about values consciously or not. In our daily work, we establish both small and larger rhythms to ensure our work culture stays aligned with our values. Sharon, Sam, and Asha discuss some of these rhythms.
"The JoyCorps core values are clearly evident in my team - with joy being one of them, along with a celebration of each person’s unique gifts. I’ve been personally encouraged by how each individual is empowered and valued for the skills they bring as we work together toward a common goal. Our meetings begin with reflecting on where we’ve seen these values lived out over the past week, and our team lead constantly reminds us of them and reinforces their importance. I truly enjoy being part of this collaborative environment, where I feel a strong sense of trust that encourages me to contribute and grow. " -Sharon
"I see our values reflected in our team, in that everybody, in their own way, makes intentional practices to develop a relational connection. This is one of the reasons why we start our meetings by asking personal questions, such as, "What are you dreaming, and what are you grieving?, "What was your biggest win"? "How are you feeling?" We want to do this before we jump into the work. We want to recognize the people we work with, whether JoyCorps team members or other individuals, as whole persons in front of us, and then move forward into the work, and hopefully carry that ethos into our work. " -Sam
"One way our organization holds closely to values- and often reminds us of is- that every person is made of heart, strength, soul and mind. It's a way of seeing people not just for the roles they play, but as whole individuals with stories, emotions, and purpose. That has shaped how I show up-not just in what I do, but in how I do it, with more empathy, understanding, and presence. It also holds space for mistakes, learnings and growth along the way. " -Asha
On 'Joy' as an organizational value
While our other values - Understanding. Integrity, Collaboration, and Empowerment - are familiar in the realm of nonprofit aspirations, JOY is an interesting outlier. Our ED Sam reflects on our value 'Joy'.
In JoyCorps' culture, the thing that I most appreciate is our first value, joy. The reason is that it is not your typical corporate value. It is definitely an aspiration, but it says something about what we would like to see in the world through our work. 'Joy' as a value emphasizes our belief that deep relationships matter in the work we do, and serves as a reminder that there is always an opportunity (not a guarantee) for joy created in forming long-term relationships, which is one of the things that animates us. -Sam
What are some of your thoughts about organizational values? We would love to know!
Published :
8 mins read
10 July 2025
Read Time:
Holistic Formation
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