December 6, 2022
When it comes to company values, there are a few key things that top businesses do differently than the rest. They make sure that their values are clearly defined and communicated to all employees, they ensure that these values are incorporated into every aspect of their business, and they keep these values front and center to attract top talent.
If you're looking for some inspiration in creating or refining your company's values, then look no further! In this article, we'll discuss the best company values used by some of the top businesses in the world and how you can apply them to your company.
What Are Company Values?
Company values are the guiding principles that inform how employees and company leaders interact with each other, customers, suppliers, and the world at large. They set a tone for how business is done within an organization — from hiring decisions and customer service policies to how staff members communicate with each other and the importance of teamwork.
They are sometimes found within a company’s mission statement, helping guide team members with purpose.
Why Are Company Values Important?
Company values are important for many reasons. They provide a sense of purpose and direction for the organization, helping ensure everyone is working towards a shared goal.
Furthermore, when employees feel connected to their company's values, it can help increase loyalty, productivity, and engagement. Employee engagement is a key factor in company profitability — the more engaged team members are, the better work they will produce.
Having a clear and compelling set of values can help attract top talent, which is an essential part of any successful business. Company values are also important for matching new talent with your company and ensuring a good fit. When a potential employee is researching positions, they often look to see if an organization's values align with their own.
Examples of the Best Company Values
Each business is unique, which means that its values should be too. However, some common threads exist among the best company values. Let's take a look at some company core values examples below.
Google values innovation, collaboration, and creativity. They also emphasize trust, respect, and inclusion in the workplace. These values are reflected in the company culture and have been incorporated into Google's products and services.
Apple
Apple prides itself on simplicity and accessibility. They strive to ensure their products and services are easy to use and understand while being top quality. They also value creativity, innovation, and collaboration—an ethos that's clearly visible in their products and how they market them.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola values diversity, sustainability, and collaboration. The company works hard to create an environment focused on employee experience where everyone can feel included and respected, regardless of their background. They also focus on sustainability initiatives that support the local communities in which they operate.
Whole Foods
Whole Foods emphasizes both environmental and social responsibility, aiming to make the world a better place. They prioritize organic, sustainable ingredients and promote healthy lifestyles. This is shown through their commitment to sourcing local, sustainable foods and their support of initiatives that benefit their communities. They are transparent in their efforts to build trust across the board.
Adobe
Adobe prizes excellence and innovation while also encouraging creativity and collaboration. They strive to create an environment that fosters learning and growth, which is reflected in their products as well as in the way they approach customer service. Additionally, they believe in work-life balance and offering meaningful work opportunities for their employees.
Patagonia
Patagonia values sustainability, environmental stewardship, and giving back to the community. They strive to use their resources responsibly and create products that are designed to last. Their commitment to these corporate values can be seen in their commitment to using sustainable materials as well as their philanthropic efforts. Employees are drawn to the company because of its commitment to creating a more sustainable future.
Spanx
Spanx believes in empowering women and promoting body positivity. They also emphasize collaboration, innovation, excellence, and celebrating diversity. These values are evident in how the company markets its products by showing diverse models of all sizes wearing their clothing. Additionally, they support initiatives that promote female empowerment and self-confidence.
American Express
American Express is all about excellence, reliability, and trust. They believe in putting customers first and delivering on their promises. This is reflected in the high quality of their customer service as well as the products they offer. Additionally, American Express values innovation and collaboration within its organizational culture to ensure that its employees can best serve customers and create better experiences for them.
Adidas
Adidas values creativity, collaboration, and taking risks. They strive to be a leader in innovation by pushing the boundaries of what's possible and never settling for the status quo. This is evident in their products which are constantly being updated with new technologies. Additionally, they focus on giving back to the community through various initiatives, such as providing educational opportunities for youth.
Netflix
Netflix values creativity, continuous learning, and embracing change. They believe in taking risks to push the boundaries of what's possible and in creating an environment where employees feel empowered to innovate. Their focus on innovation can be seen in their streaming services which are constantly being updated with new content. Additionally, they emphasize collaboration between teams, allowing for a greater exchange of ideas.
How to Choose Your Top Company Values
Your company's values should be reflective of what makes your business unique. You can start by defining the core tenets that guide your company — such as customer satisfaction, innovation, or collaboration — and then focus on what sets you apart from your competition. Remember to be open-minded about what goes into your corporate values and how your team’s hard work will play into them.
Once you have identified the values that best fit with your unique brand, it's important to communicate them clearly and consistently. You should also ensure that your values are reflected in all of your decisions, from hiring and training practices to customer service policies.
By taking the time to define and emphasize the values that matter most to your company, you can help ensure it has a long-term impact on the world and the success of your business.
The most successful companies have a clear and compelling set of company values. Values help shape an organization's culture, impacting employee satisfaction and loyalty. By carefully considering the values that best fit your organization, you can create an environment that attracts and retains top talent — which is essential for business success.
How to Apply These Company Values in Your Business
After you consider the values of top companies and decide which ones best suit your organization, it's important to find ways to incorporate them into everyday operations. Here are some tips for putting those values into practice:
- Clearly communicate values to staff and customers. This can be done through postings on websites, emails, newsletters, or other outlets as well as during the onboarding process.
- Make sure all hiring decisions are made according to the company's values. This will help ensure that the right talent is brought into the organization and that everyone is on board with the mission, which will also help with retention.
- Promote the values through social media, both internally and externally. This will help ensure that all stakeholders know the company's shared goal and create a sense of connection to the brand.
- Reinforce the values by recognizing employees who embody them in their work and actively promote them across different projects and initiatives.
- Ensure employee benefits reflect the values, such as flexible work hours, a focus on well-being, community service projects, and other perks.
Where to Promote Your Company Values
In addition to incorporating your values into your daily operations, promoting them externally is important. This can be done through blogs, press releases, or social media posts highlighting your company's unique aspects and how they reflect in the workplace.
You should also consider creating a page on your website dedicated to your company values. This can help job seekers determine if your organization is a good fit and offer further insight into your culture.
Developing and promoting your company values can ensure that they have a lasting impact on your business and the world around it. With the right set of values, you'll be able to create an inspiring and productive work environment that attracts top talent and drives success.
The Best Company Values Are The Ones That Align With Your Business
By taking the time to identify and incorporate your company's values into everyday operations, you will create a workplace culture that is both productive and inspiring. It's also a great way to make sure that everyone in the organization is on board with the mission, and it can help attract top talent. With these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
