18 Core Company Values That Will Shape Your Culture & Inspire Your Employees

Consider one of American Express’s corporate values ​​- Customer Commitment. Ideally, if you’ve had a positive experience with an American Express customer service representative, this value will be displayed firsthand.

Alternatively, look at one of Google’s values: “Focus on the user and everything else will follow.”

Every Google search shows you that they stand for their purpose, to serve the user. Undoubtedly, most of the answers to your frequently asked questions can be found on page one of Google, and in more recent times it’s probably also separated into its own snippet.

With Corporate Values, you can ensure that each of your employees, from top management to entry level, is working toward the same common goal and a greater purpose.

The purpose is undoubtedly crucial to employee satisfaction. An imperative survey of LinkedIn members found that 73% of purpose-driven members are satisfied with their work, compared to 64% who are not purpose-oriented.

In addition, the purpose not only improves employee satisfaction but also improves your bottom line. The same Imperative survey found that 58% of companies with a clearly formulated and understood purpose saw + 10% growth compared to just 42% of companies that did not prioritize a purpose.

Ultimately, core values ​​are critical if you want to create a lasting, successful and motivating workplace.

Whether you’re working for a new company that needs inspiration for core value or an older company that needs value creation – you’re in luck – we’ve compiled a list of the best company values ​​here. In addition, we will examine how some companies really respect their values.

Examples of companies with inspiring core values

1. American Express

• Customer loyalty: We develop relationships that have a positive impact on our customers’ lives.
• Quality: We offer outstanding products and unmatched service that together provide our customers with first-class value.
• Integrity: We adhere to the highest standards of integrity in everything we do.
• Teamwork: We work together across borders to meet our customers’ needs and help our company win.
• Respect for people: We value our people, encourage their development and reward their performance.
• Good citizenship: We are good citizens in the communities in which we live and work.
• The Will to Win: We show a strong will to win in the market and in all aspects of our business.
• Personal Accountability: We are personally responsible for the performance of our commitments.

American Express isn’t just the essentials when it comes to courteous and helpful customer service – it goes way beyond providing solutions for its customers even when there is no protocol.

For example, American Express executive vice president Raymond Joabar told this story in a recent Forbes interview: “Once a hotel café manager [an Amex merchant] alerted my team that they accidentally sold a display cake containing harmful chemicals and needed to find customers before they ate it. Of course there is no procedure for doing this, but our team has taken on the problem. They gathered all the information they could from the billing records, identified 21 card members who were using their cards at the cafe during that period, checked the accounts to find the correct match, and called the card member in good time before they operated the card Cake at an anniversary celebration. “

“The important point here,” noted Joabar, “aside from making sure everyone landed safe and sound, is that there isn’t a script for every situation, so we empower our nurses to do what is right for the client . And we.” Also, realize what you are doing with this empowerment. We give awards to employees who go beyond what is needed to help customers, and we share their stories across the company. “

This anecdote exemplifies the commitment American Express employees have to their customers, even if it isn’t easy, and shows the company’s commitment to living by its values.

2. Google

• Focus on the user and everything else will follow.
• It’s best to do something really, really well.
• Fast is better than slow.
• Democracy works on the web.
• You don’t have to be at your desk to need an answer.
• You can make money without doing evil.
• There is always more information out there.
• The need for information exceeds all limits.
• You can be serious without a suit.
• Great is just not good enough.

On the Google Philosophy page, they not only list their core values, but also provide examples.

For example, consider their worth: “You can make money without doing evil.” While many companies are likely to extol the benefits of integrity, Google cites strategic efforts to avoid “bad” deals, including: “We don’t allow ads to appear on our results pages unless they’re relevant where they’re shown … We do not accept pop-up advertisements that interfere with your ability to display the content you have requested … [and] Advertising on Google is always clearly marked as a “sponsored link” so that the integrity of our search results is not compromised. “

Ultimately, a core value doesn’t have much power if your company can’t list deliberate, calculated decisions that are made to put values ​​before profit.

3. Coca Cola

• Leadership: The courage to create a better future.
• Collaboration: Leverage the collective genius.
• Integrity: be real.
• Accountability: If it’s supposed to be, it’s up to me.
• Passion: Engaged in heart and mind.
• Diversity: As comprehensive as our brands.
• Quality: what we do, we do well.

Coca Cola demonstrates its core value for diversity on its public Global Diversity Missionpage, which outlines the company’s diversity-related efforts, such as:[collecting employee] Feedback through formal surveys and informally through their participation in our Business Resource Groups, various Diversity Education programs, and our Resolution Resources Program, where employees can work to solve problems they face in our company. “

In addition, Coca Cola’s Global Diversity Mission page exemplifies their commitment to accountability – they have publicly included pie charts with statistics on the global gender and racial relations of their employees. By recognizing both their efforts and their shortcomings, Coca Cola can show its desire to live up to its values ​​while taking responsibility for any misunderstandings between its ideals and reality.

4. Whole foods

• We satisfy and inspire our customers – our customers are the lifeblood of our business and our most important stakeholders. We strive to meet or exceed your expectations with every shopping experience.
• We promote the growth and happiness of team members – Our success depends on the collective energy, intelligence and contributions of all our team members.
• We care about our communities and the environment – We serve and support a local experience. The unique character of each store directly reflects the people, culture and cuisine of a community.
• We practice win-win partnerships with our suppliers – we see our trading partners as allies in the service of our stakeholders. We treat them with respect, fairness and integrity – and expect the same in return.

Under each of its values ​​on its core values ​​page, Whole Foods has a link such as “Find out more about how we care about our communities and the environment”.

Ultimately, her side shows her ability to go the way. For example, to illustrate their commitment to local communities, Whole Foods launched a local producer loan program that provides independent local farmers and grocery artisans with low-interest loans of up to $ 25 million.

Additionally, Whole Foods offers a list of eco-friendly efforts they have made since 1980, including “printing and packaging with recycled paper and water or vegetable based, composting to reduce landfill, and no single-use plastic bags at checkout since 2008”.

If you’ve been to Whole Foods before you know they are serious about reducing waste and helping the local community. In fact, that’s one reason so many customers are branding – because they support that effort too.

Ultimately, good core values ​​can help an audience identify with and stay true to your brand rather than switching between you and competitors. Ensure long-term success andWhen it comes to long-term employee loyalty, it’s important that you create and live by certain non-negotiable company values.