The Wildcard Value: A Smarter Way to Shift Culture in the Short Term
Most companies have a list of values. Maybe five or six phrases that show up in onboarding decks, slide footers, and the occasional wall mural. And that’s good. Clear values matter. They help align teams, guide decisions, and define who you are when no one’s watching.
But sometimes, those values aren’t enough.
Sometimes, you need something with a little more heat.
You need a wildcard.
Think of it as:
What is a wildcard?
A wildcard value is a temporary, intentionally chosen value designed to shape your team’s energy, attitude, or approach for a specific stretch of time—say, six months. It’s not forever. It’s not foundational. It’s a limited-time lens you apply to move your culture forward in the moment you’re in.
You’re not replacing your core values. You’re turning the volume up on something situationally important. Something that isn’t always needed—but right now? It might be everything.
How it works
Why use one?
Because companies—like people—move through seasons.
Some seasons require pace. Others require pause. Some call for kindness. Others, edge.
And most internal value sets aren’t designed to flex that fast. They’re long-haul tools. But a wildcard value gives you a short-term spark. It creates intentional clarity and alignment without overhauling your identity.
It helps your people answer the question:
“What does this season of our work require from us?”
Examples in action
Wildcard Values We’ve Used (or Almost Used):
- Shock the system – for when comfort is costing you momentum
- Say the thing – for when conflict is being avoided
- Turn pro – for when you need to level up execution
- Let it be easy – for when everything feels harder than it needs to
- Be undeniable – for when you’re doing good work that isn’t getting noticed
- No passengers – for when you’re carrying dead weight
Click here to take the value test
This isn’t about trend-chasing or performative pep talks. It’s about staying culturally tuned-in. About creating a lightweight way to respond to what your organization actually needs right now—before it drifts too far from where it’s meant to go.
Final thought
Culture isn’t static. It’s built on micro-decisions, week by week.
Wildcard values give you a way to steer, adjust, and energize your team without losing the throughline of who you are.
Try one. See what happens.
Want to roll out a wildcard value with your team? We’ve seen it work—and we can help you pick the right one for where you are, and where you’re headed.
