More Than Words on a Wall: Why Company Values Are Your Culture’s Backbone

Company values—do they actually matter?

The answer is a resounding yes. But only if they're treated as more than just words framed on a wall or printed in a handbook. Values should be the guiding principles that shape decisions, behavior, and culture at every level of your organization.

Why Company Values Matter More Than You Think

Too often, businesses invest time in creating beautiful value statements and then never speak of them again. That’s a missed opportunity. Your team should not only know your values but feel them in action. Values should be woven into the fabric of your daily operations—from team meetings to performance reviews and everything in between.

How Core Values Shape Culture and Drive Employee Behavior

When used intentionally, company values become a powerful tool. They offer a framework for recognizing and rewarding behavior that aligns with your culture. Whether it’s calling out a teammate for exceptional collaboration or highlighting someone’s integrity in a tough situation, values provide a common language for praise.

Research from Qualtrics indicates that employees who feel their company's values align with their own are more than twice as likely to recommend their employer as a great place to work (70% vs. 25%). They're also significantly more likely to feel a sense of personal accomplishment in their roles (72% vs. 29%).

How to Use Core Values When Addressing Performance Issues

On the flip side, values are equally important when addressing performance challenges. When behaviors don’t align with what your company stands for, referencing your core values makes feedback more objective and clear. It helps guide coaching conversations and resets expectations—not based on opinion, but on shared principles.

For example, if one of your core values is "Respect in Every Interaction," and an employee is speaking dismissively to teammates, you can anchor your feedback in that value. Rather than saying, "You’re being rude," (because that can feel like a personal attack, and gives no clarity around what the issue was with how they acted...), you could instead say, "One of our core values is showing respect in every interaction, and the way the conversation went in today’s meeting didn’t reflect that. I heard you say [insert what they said that didn't align.] A better way to have shared your concern could have been to say [insert better phrasing that aligns with the value of respect.] Let’s continue to have conversations about how we can ensure we are speaking in ways that support our values."

Using values this way helps shift the conversation from personal criticism to constructive alignment—and reminds everyone what you're all working toward together.

Bringing Your Company Values to Life

But here’s the key: values must be alive in your workplace. They should be discussed frequently—at team huddles, in 1:1s, during onboarding, and in leadership messaging. If the only time an employee hears about your values is during orientation, that’s not enough.

According to a report by Deloitte, organizations with strong, clearly defined values experience 30% higher levels of employee engagement. Furthermore, companies that align their values with employee motivation see a 23% increase in performance metrics among their employees.

So, employers—do yourself (and your team) a favor: take your company values seriously. Talk about them. Celebrate them. Hold each other accountable to them. Because when values are more than just words, they become the heartbeat of a strong, aligned, and thriving company culture.

Don’t Have Company Values Yet? Here’s Where to Start

If you're reading this and understand the importance of company values but don't currently have clearly them clearly defined, you're not alone! There are numerous resources to help. To get started, check out these:

• Harvard Business Review: How to Create Company Values That Actually Resonate
  
  
• Asana: 15 Example Company Values & Tips to Set Your Own
  
  
• Great Place to Work: Defining and Living Your Company Core Values
  
  

Need Help Building a Values-Based Culture? We Can Support You

Is this an issue you're currently facing in your organization? If so, our HR Subscription provides the ongoing support and guidance you need to build a company culture rooted in authentic, actionable values. We invite you to schedule a free consultation so we can explore how to best support your organization’s success!