Getting Clear on Our Values at DCL

Dakota County Lumber has been on a journey through the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) for the past several months now, and we couldn't be more proud of the progress we've made. EOS is a comprehensive business management system that helps organizations identify their core values, establish their vision, and achieve their goals.

One of the things EOS has helped us figure out is our values as a company. We knew we wanted to get 5 or 6 solid values that described our company, and our employees. So we started with a list of 25+ values and adjectives that we as a company compiled together. Then leadership looked at our employees who we felt embodied DCL. We asked questions like, what is it about them that we value? What are their specific qualities that we want all employees at DCL to have? Those questions and conversations turned into six, solid core values that we believe we have the responsibility to exemplify in our company.

Our core values are

  • BE PROACTIVE

  • TAKE OWNERSHIP

  • DO WHATEVER IT TAKES

  • LEAVE IT BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT

  • HAVE TOTAL INTEGRITY

  • BE A GOOD HUMAN

These values guide everything we do, from our interactions with customers to our day-to-day operations.

BE PROACTIVE means that we are always looking for ways to improve our business processes and better serve our customers.

TAKE OWNERSHIP means that we hold ourselves accountable for our actions and take responsibility for our successes and failures.

DO WHATEVER IT TAKES means that we go above and beyond to ensure that our customers' needs are met.

LEAVE IT BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT means that we strive to leave every job site better than when we arrived, both in terms of the work we do and the impact we have on the environment.

HAVE TOTAL INTEGRITY means that we are always honest and transparent in our business dealings, and we treat everyone with respect and fairness.

BE A GOOD HUMAN means that we are committed to making a positive impact in our community and helping those in need.

Through the EOS system, we have been able to implement these core values in all aspects of our business. By focusing on these values, we have created a culture of excellence and accountability at Dakota County Lumber. Our employees are committed to upholding these values in all their interactions with customers, vendors, and each other.

As a result of our EOS journey, we have been able to streamline our operations, improve our customer service, and achieve our goals more efficiently. We are proud of the progress we've made, but we know that there is always more work to be done. We remain committed to the EOS system and our core values, and we look forward to continuing our journey of growth and improvement at Dakota County Lumber.

Sadie Williams