World Class

Taking the first steps in our people strategy, we started looking at what sort of an organization AARP is and should try to be. Our executive and leadership teams began that process by identifying and defining our values and the behaviors that would help us to be world class. We found we could summarize them using WORLD CLASS as an acronym.

W = Walk the Talk—that is, we lead by example.
O = We are Open to ideas and share knowledge.
R = We take time to Recognize our successes and lessons learned.
L = We continually Learn and apply new knowledge and skills.
D = Decisive. We make and communicate timely, informed, and effective decisions.
  
C = Creative. We value and encourage creativity, innovation, and risk taking.
L = We Listen, trust, and respect one another’s views and opinions.
A = We hold ourselves Accountable for using resources wisely and for the results we commit to achieving.
S = We provide valuable Service to members and society.
S = Shared Responsibility. We share collective responsibility for AARP’s success.

So the phrase "world class" has a double meaning for AARP. It is a goal that we aspire to as individuals and as an organization. It is also an acronym that summarizes the attributes and behaviors that will help AARP be world class.

Through our people strategy, we are integrating and initiating a wide range of people-related efforts to ensure that we are building the employee–manager relationship, as well as positively influencing how our work environment supports our best performance, how we work together and hold each other accountable, and how well we understand and are committed to our strategic direction.

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