To keep your team united when core values clash, start by facilitating an open discussion to understand differing perspectives. Revisit the team's shared goals and emphasize common objectives. Encourage collaboration to find compromises and establish new norms that align with the team's mission. Foster a culture of respect and inclusivity.

There is a fundamental difference between individual values and team values. The individuals values maybe be clashing, so an open discussion is required to develop a set of mutually agreed Team values. This relates to a team purpose and can bring together a disjoint team for a bigger purpose. This needs to include exercises to assess and build trust, to identify the purpose of the team through stakeholder identification and needs, and an agreement of Team purpose and values.

In my experience, the root cause is that the core values were created and delivered from the top down. To address this, ask each team member what core values drive them and what values should drive the team. Next, coordinate open discussions where everyone can express their point of view. Then, link the values to the culture and mission of the organization. Now, get buy in that these values matter and establish shared ownership and responsibility for living them. Reinforce how mutual respect and collaboration are vital and discuss how candor is valued and makes the team stronger. By addressing this in a collaborative manner, you will build a united team that can reach new heights together.

Collaboratively create a mission statement that incorporates elements from the different values, serving as a guiding framework for the team's objectives and behaviors.

To maintain unity in values, the commitment of senior management and leaders is very important, that their message is coherent and that they live by example, behaviors that reflect these values. Likewise, doing exercises to align individual purpose with the collective and find the contribution of each collaborator to the organizational purpose.

This is a direct challenge to culture. Establishing and aligning on core values as a team is essential for any successful and efficient workplace. We need an open, constructive conversation about our core values and how they shape our actions and decisions. Culture must be clearly defined, regularly discussed, and actively upheld by every member, starting with the leader who facilitates and reinforces these conversations. To truly understand each other’s perspectives, team members should be willing to step into each other’s viewpoints, even temporarily, to build a stronger, more unified foundation. A strong, clearly communicated culture isn’t optional; it’s the backbone of effective collaboration.