Company Values Examples: The Benefits of a Values Statement

Company core values are words or phrases that clearly define your company culture. When you simplify, list, and openly display your core company values, you communicate the guiding principles of your organizational culture to your clients, stakeholders, and employees. This set of values should also reflect aspects of the company’s short-term and long-term goals and vice versa.

An organization’s values statement defines the emotional drive and philosophical framework behind a company’s actions, whereas a company’s mission statement is a set of steps or business practices that can help the company achieve its goals. If the values are the “why” of an organization, then the mission statement is the “how.”

Corporate values can promote a healthy employee experience, improve client and employee satisfaction, and encourage leadership team members to align in their decision-making efforts. By contrast, the mission statement will often contain actionable items that team members can work toward, contributing to the collective’s overall success.

Company values can improve morale and optimize productivity when employees at every level of an organization adopt and follow them. Here are three reasons company values matter:

• They encourage employee empowerment. Company values—particularly ones that promote a harmonious, productive work environment—often outline important attributes successful employees in the company share. Examples might include respect, open-mindedness, transparency, and loyalty. Discussing these values with direct reports during employee reviews can foster a two-way contract between managers and employees and ultimately improve the cross-functionality of your team. A company’s set of values should create an environment where employees hear and respect one another, regardless of their rank or status.
• They improve employee recruitment and retention. Employees might experience greater loyalty to their jobs and employers if the organization shares views similar to their own. For example, a company that uses its influence to positively affect global issues, such as poverty, hunger, or resource sustainability, will attract candidates who share this sense of social responsibility. Shifting your company focus to encompass core values alongside the bottom line and performance metrics might help you recruit new employees ready to answer your call to action with passion and energy.
• They promote teamwork. When employees share a greater purpose and large-scale vision, it’s easier for them to see how their contributions add value to the entire organization. This positively impacts company culture, creating a strong sense of community and a willingness to be good brand ambassadors who will uphold the highest standards of their industry.
  

There are many possibilities when it comes to which values a company chooses; however, it’s imperative the tenets reflect the company’s short-term and long-term goals and overall mission. Here are three core values examples:

1. 1. Accountability: It takes courage to own up to your mistakes, but a willingness to share in both failures and successes is key if your team is going to reach a common goal.
   
2. 2. Craftsmanship: When every member of your team takes pride in doing their best work and goes the extra mile for customers, that level of care and service earns loyal customers and differentiates your company from the competition.
3. 3. Integrity: An employee with integrity does the right thing even when nobody's watching. Companies that value integrity encourage their employees to behave morally, which helps to build trust, transparency, and respect among the team members.

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