Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries
Serving Greater Cincinnati

Your journey begins here!

Explore the core values and behaviors that define how we work together to empower lives, inspire change, and create opportunities.

 

Welcome to the Goodwill Way

At Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries, we are on a mission to eliminate barriers, empower individuals, and elevate human potential. We live that mission every day. The 27 “Fundamentals” that follow describe the daily behaviors that bring our values to life and make our mission real. We call it the Ohio Valley Goodwill Way.

 

 

Explore the Goodwill Way

Discover the 27 key behaviors that empower us to serve our community, support each other, and achieve our shared mission.

Goodwill Ohio Valley's 27 "Fundamentals that follow describe the daily behaviors that bring our values to life and make our mission real.

DO THE RIGHT THING, ALWAYS.

Demonstrate an unwavering commitment to doing the right thing in every action you take and in every decision you make, especially when no one’s looking. Do Good, Be Great. Always tell the truth, no matter the consequences. If you make a mistake, own up to it, apologize, and make it right.

PRACTICE BLAMELESS PROBLEM-SOLVING

Demonstrate a relentless solution focus, rather than pointing fingers or dwelling on problems. Identify lessons learned and use those lessons to improve ourselves and our processes so we don’t make the same mistake twice. Get smarter with every mistake. Learn from every experience.

HONOR COMMITMENTS

Do what you say you’re going to do, when you say you’re going to do it. This includes being on time for all phone calls, appointments, meetings, and promises. If a commitment can’t be fulfilled, notify others early and agree on a new deliverable to be honored.

GET CLEAR ON EXPECTATIONS

Create clarity and avoid misunderstandings by discussing expectations upfront. Set expectations for others and ask when you’re not clear on what they expect of you. End all meetings with clarity about action items, responsibilities, and due dates.

LISTEN TO UNDERSTAND

Listening is more than simply “not speaking.” Give others your undivided attention. Be present and engaged. Minimize the distractions and let go of the need to agree or disagree. Suspend your judgment and be curious to know more, rather than jumping to conclusions. Above all, listen to understand.

SPEAK UP

Speak honestly in a way that helps to make progress. Be respectful, but say what you mean, and be willing to ask questions, share ideas, or raise issues that may cause conflict when it’s necessary for team success. Be courageous enough to say what needs to be said, when it needs to be said. Communicate your needs.

TAKE OWNERSHIP

Take personal responsibility for making things happen. Be resilient. Approach every situation by looking for how we can do it, rather than explaining why it can’t be done. Don’t wait to be told. Be resourceful and show initiative. Don’t make excuses or wait for others to solve the problem. Feel empowered to overcome barriers.

CELEBRATE SUCCESS

Recognize people doing things right rather than pointing out when they do things wrong. Regularly extend meaningful acknowledgment and appreciation—in all directions throughout our organization.

BE DISSATISFIED WITH AVERAGE

Demonstrate a passion for excellence and take pride in the quality of everything you touch and everything you do. Don’t accept mediocrity. Good is not good enough. Always ask yourself, “Is this my best work?”

ASSUME POSITIVE INTENT

Work from the assumption that people are good, fair, and honest, and that the intent behind their actions is positive. Set aside your own judgments and preconceived notions. Give people the benefit of the doubt.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO EVOLVE

We’re proud of our past, and excited for our future. What got us here is not the same as what will get us to the next level. “Because we’ve always done it that way” is not a reason. Get outside your comfort zone, rather than stubbornly

DELIVER LEGENDARY SERVICE

It’s all about the experience. With every experience, do the little things, as well as the big things, that surprise people. Make every interaction stand out for its helpfulness. Exceed expectations. Create the “WOW” factor that turns customers into raving fans. This includes both internal and external customers.

LOOK AHEAD AND ANTICIPATE

Be proactive, not reactive. Solve problems before they happen by anticipating future issues, planning for contingencies, and addressing them in advance. Work with appropriate lead times. Preventing issues is always better than fixing them.

BE CURIOUS

In the search for the best solutions, challenge and question what you don’t understand. Get clear on the “why.” Don’t accept anything at “face value” if it doesn’t make sense to you. Be curious, ask thoughtful questions, and listen intently to the answers. Dig deeper to go beyond the expected.

BE A GOODWILL AMBASSADOR

Be proud of the work we do. Stay mission oriented. Treasure, protect, and promote our reputation. Make decisions that best serve the mission and our organization. Share our story and be a positive contributor to it.

BE A LIFELONG LEARNER

Embrace every opportunity to grow and develop. Stay curious, ask questions, and seek out new knowledge. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes—they’re valuable learning experiences. Be open to feedback and use it to improve. The more you learn, the more you can contribute to your own success and the success of the team.

CHAMPION EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Embrace and actively promote an inclusive environment where different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences are valued. Recognize the strength that diversity brings to our team and decision-making. Seek out and amplify underrepresented voices, ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to contribute. Continuously challenge biases, both individually and as a team, and strive to create spaces where everyone feels respected, heard, and empowered to succeed.

BE PROCESS-DRIVEN

Create systems and processes that are scalable and that support our ability to perform with consistency. Utilize existing processes and best practices. Strong processes are the foundation of organizational effectiveness.

TREAT EVERYONE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT

Treat others in a way that honors their self-worth and respects their value as unique individuals. Genuinely care for others. Act with kindness, compassion, and empathy. Learn to walk in others’ shoes and to think from their perspective. Understand

THINK SAFE. WORK SAFE

Know and practice the safety procedures for your job. Watch out for the safety of your teammates as well, since we’re all part of the Goodwill team. Never take shortcuts that compromise anyone’s safety.

WORK SMART

Be obsessive about organization. Plan your work for maximum efficiency. Be thoughtful about your schedule, and have a game plan for your tasks and your workday. Know the priorities and work on them first.

EMBRACE SUSTAINABILITY

Seek opportunities to maximize the life cycle of materials, time, and resources through sustainable practices. Our goal is to work efficiently while promoting circularity—repurposing, recycling, and reusing wherever possible—without compromising quality, safety, or competitiveness. It’s our responsibility to ensure that everything we touch is used to its fullest potential, contributing to a more sustainable future.

ELEVATE OTHERS

Be there for each other. Check your ego at the door. Provide rigorous support to one another, including honest and direct feedback. Include everyone and be willing to step into another role or help a co-worker when that’s what’s required for success. Consider how your actions impact your teammates.

COLLABORATE

Share information and work together. Be inclusive of your teammates and open to different perspectives that may challenge your way of thinking. Be willing to ask for help, rather than finding yourself alone on an island.

"BRING IT" EVERY DAY

Everyone is needed and everyone’s important. Be here and be fully engaged. Make the most of each day by approaching every task with energy, focus, purpose, and enthusiasm. Be passionate about our mission. Make the choice to spread positivity and optimism.

WORK WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY

Work as quickly as possible without sacrificing quality. Don’t put off till tomorrow what can be completed today. Act decisively. If something is going to fail, let it fail fast and pivot.

KEEP THINGS FUN

While our passion for excellence is real, remember to enjoy the work you do and the people you do it with. Keep perspective. Stuff happens. Don’t take things personally. Laugh every day. A positive attitude goes a long way.