Making
things better

We’re here to make a difference. We are invested in listening, reflecting and working together. We are fully committed to excellence and having a positive, meaningful impact.

Behaviours

Regardless of my role and/or position, I offer solutions and take initiative when I notice something that needs doing.

I contribute toward making everyday moments better for the people around me. I point out and celebrate others who are doing this too.

I strive for excellence in my work. I am invested in providing the best possible experience when engaging with others.

Acting from
the heart

Generosity, empathy, and kindness are the core of who we are. We are fueled by connection, warmth and compassion, positivity and friendliness.

Behaviours

I am responsive to the feelings and experiences of others. I greet and engage with others with positivity and genuine caring for their wellbeing.

I am open and assume good intent of others. I recognize that we are working together to achieve shared goals and celebrate our accomplishments.

I make time for people and their needs and priorities. I help where I can and am positive in my attitudes.

Driven
by learning

Our drive to learn and be our best comes from a spirit of collective curiosity and imagination. We’re motivated by excellence and big ideas. We dare to dream and see the possibilities.

Behaviours

I work toward goals while seeking professional and personal learning opportunities in everything I do. I mentor by sharing what I know and promoting a learning mindset to develop our collective capacity.

I actively seek out the expertise of my colleagues. Together, we imagine innovative possibilities as a part of finding solutions.

I ask and answer questions with an open and non-judgmental attitude that promotes learning, growth and innovation.

Tackling our
challenges

Our commitment, dedication and resilience guide us through adversity. We use flexibility, creativity and adaptability to find solutions to our challenges. No matter how difficult the path, we lead by persevering and helping each other weather any storms.

Behaviours

When I encounter challenges, I identify possible solutions and ask others for their ideas. I try new and creative approaches.

I step up and do my part in difficult situations. I am calm, look for common ground, and am willing to change plans as things evolve.

I rely on my skill to develop strong relationships during times of stress. I reach out and offer help when I see others have a heavy load. I accept help when others offer assistance.

Optimizing
our potential

We realize greatness as we work together to co-create our present and our future. Recognizing the contribution we all have to offer, we build upon one another’s strengths toward achieving our shared vision and goals. As we work collaboratively, we share our uniqueness and our diverse perspectives as a beacon to improve and move forward.

Behaviours

I co-create and collaborate as we move toward achieving our shared goals.

When goal-setting, planning, implementing and/or evaluating care or services, I invite and use the strengths, perspectives and contributions of others involved in and impacted by the work.

I see difference as a strength and a way to improve current thinking and approaches. I seek opportunities to connect across difference and learn about, from and with one another.

Cultivating
belonging

We co-create the conditions for belonging so all of us can thrive. Committed to equity, fairness and diversity, we accept and value all people. As we nurture safe and brave cultures, we develop open and inclusive relationships where everyone is invited to meaningfully contribute.

Behaviours

I notice and seek to develop fair and equitable processes and cultures representative of our diverse backgrounds. I listen actively, ask questions to understand differing perspectives and use this to inform action.

While difficult, I address when others aren’t living our shared values so that everyone treats one another better. I help break down silos and power imbalances.

I look for voices and perspectives that are absent and invite them to contribute in ways that work for them. I voice my opinion and make it safe for others to speak up too.

Welcome to the IWK’s Values

These words came from you and your colleagues through a variety of feedback methods including focus groups, face to face meetings with program teams, a broad campaign for staff, and check-in feedback as they were developed. A core group representing different areas and roles worked to distill, theme and articulate the feedback using your words. For many of you who participated in the broader process, these values reflect how we behave and expect each other to behave in the workplace. For some, these values were being violated. Having explicit values with sample behaviours will help us hold each other accountable when we are not being at our best. These values will be reflected in processes and programs across the IWK in the coming months in things like our Kudos program, hiring, job postings and performance development.

Frequently Asked Questions launch

How were these values developed? Who had input?

Values were developed based on extensive input and engagement across the organization from December 2020 to October 2021, including:

results from previous Employee Engagement Surveys and the COVID spot check survey;
focus groups with patients, families and staff;
accreditor feedback and input from IWK Board of Directors;
discussion with Leadership Forum to test campaign questions;
four-week Secret Sauce campaign to gain viewpoints from staff and physicians – a qualitative authenticity-check that gave people a chance to weigh in with their perspective to eight key questions;
and feedback sessions with the Medical Advisory Council (MAC), all program operations teams, and the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Reconciliation, Accessibility Steering Committee.

Throughout the process, a core team of eight with representation from Learning & Development, Communications & Public Affairs and point-of-care employees worked to identify values from all sources noted above and Secret Sauce campaign responses (including those that were being violated). Based on themes, the team set out to identify 5-7 core values and articulate a shared understanding of each one.

IWK already has a Code of Conduct and a Respectful Workplace policy so why do we need new values?

Our shared values guide our decisions and help us focus on what matters most. That translates not only to the care experience for patients and families, but also shows up in our daily interactions with each other at work.

Values at work shape our culture. And yet, we know these values do not reflect the lived experience for everyone. Based on the responses to the Secret Sauce campaign, we also know that sometimes we violate these values. It’s time to change that.

Values should take us beyond minimum expectations and codes of conduct and remind us of the kind of people we are when we are at our best and what we strive for as we work together.

Why do values matter and how will we use them?

According to Forbes values are how you hire, how you change behavior, and are the heart of your culture — how you make day-to-day decisions.

What we value shows up in many important ways including how we hire, how we expect each other to behave and how we hold ourselves accountable. Values guide our actions.

This isn’t something more we have to do — it’s about how we place focus on the things we already do.

What can we expect next? Will there be changes as a result of these new values?

Yes. These values will be embedded in our existing work. They will help shape hiring, recognition and training.

Going forward Human Resources will integrate values into: HR service model/ structure, a new improved recruitment process including new tools aligned with core values, system refresher training, the People Strategy, and performance management/talent development. Values will guide the development of associated competencies — eventually aligning training modules to values and competencies.

Will these values replace IWK’s previous values?

The previous values hadn’t been reviewed in many years. We wanted to take a more inclusive approach in the development so the values and the language felt authentic and relatable. Many of the core themes remain and have not changed but we’ve taken our values a step further to articulate associated behaviours. This helps us see how our values show up so we can do a better job of living up to them. Following the internal rollout, the external website will be updated.