I am rather impressed as I'm working away in an open office environment, when I hear colleagues cite our company principles. And I should add they are cited sincerely, are being used to think about behaviour -- not being used ironically.
I was reminded though of perhaps the most candid and abrupt corporate principle ever -- Cut the Crap.
In 2002 the BBC CEO made a speech and a soccer style card:
I would also ask that people in every team in the BBC be it at Watchdog, Radio Leicester or outside broadcasts discuss how we make this place better, how we make it exciting, how do we ensure that the cynics and moaners in the organisation and they're there in all big organisations are marginalized. In short how do we cut the crap and make it happen?
To help me I've had a yellow card printed which says on it "cut the crap and make it happen" which I plan to bring out at every meeting when someone is trying to stop a good idea rather than make it happen. We'll send one to anyone who wants one.
The BBC is a pretty extraordinary and innovative media organisation. I guess it worked.
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/speeches/stories/dyke_makingithappen.shtml
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/feb/08/broadcasting.bbc
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/feb/07/broadcasting.bbc
image from https://newsmutt.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/cut-the-crap/