How to bring your company’s values to life

For an employee, there is a significant difference between knowing the company’s values and fully grasping their meaning to put them into practice effectively. A global study of 28,000 workers in 15 countries showed that sharing company values is the most important factor in increasing employee engagement.

Given that employee engagement influences all aspects of the business, from retention to performance, it’s essential to take strategies to improve it seriously.

A well-designed recognition program that reinforces your values is, therefore, essential for any organization concerned with having happy, motivated, productive and, above all, engaged employees.

The more your workers can experience and interact with your values, the more likely they are to embrace them and truly live them day after day. Read on to discover 5 ways to bring your corporate values to life.

1. Create a Values-Based Recognition Program

By implementing a values-based recognition program, you can target the specific reasons why your employees deserve recognition. This approach reinforces desired behaviors by highlighting those that are consistent with your values. By understanding that respecting company values leads to positive recognition, employees are encouraged to adopt and repeat these actions. What’s more, it fosters a motivating work environment and encourages corporate culture, increasing employee satisfaction and loyalty.

2. Integrate Your Values Into Your Peer Recognition Program

A value-based peer recognition program strengthens corporate culture and encourages positive team spirit. This involves creating a system where employees can appreciate each other for their commitment to shared values. According to one article, 90% of workers reported that values-based peer recognition made them more satisfied with their work. This exchange of recognition fosters collaboration and mutual respect, while encouraging everyone to embody the organization’s values in their daily work. It also reinforces a sense of belonging and support within the team, which can lead to greater job satisfaction and improved overall performance. By creating an environment where everyone’s successes are celebrated, you help to create a dynamic of respect and collective motivation.

At Altrum for example, we’ve implemented this practice using the Celebration Peer Recognition Software. This platform enables employees to appreciate each other by associating their messages of recognition with one of our four corporate values: customer focus, teamwork, better every day and determined support. Each quarter, we hold a short ceremony to present a trophy to one person in each of the four categories, selected by an internal vote. By encouraging these values in our daily interactions, we foster a positive and motivating working environment for all.

3. Recruit According to Your Values

Adopting a values-based approach to recruitment can boost commitment and performance, reduce turnover, and foster a stable organizational culture. Once you’ve defined the key behaviors that align with your values, incorporate them into your job offers and throughout your recruitment process. This helps attract candidates aligned with your vision and objectives. Once new employees begin to familiarize themselves with their work, they become more invested in realizing that the company’s values match their own principles. This deep connection fosters successful integration and increased motivation. For this recruitment approach to be effective, values must be deeply rooted in the organization’s culture. Otherwise, there may be negative effects for both individuals and the company.

4. Incorporate Values into Your Performance Reviews

Every employee is an ambassador for the company, and is responsible for reflecting its values, mission and vision in their day-to-day behavior. If an employee goes against the behavior required by the company, it impacts both their personal performance and that of the organization.

During performance reviews, focusing on the company’s values offers an excellent opportunity to assess these behaviors and the reasons behind them in a positive and constructive manner

You can encourage your team to work in line with your values by explaining why they are important, setting expectations for how they can do so, and incorporating them into your recognition efforts.

5. Integrate Company Values at all Levels

When managers embody the company’s values in their daily actions, they become an integral part of the organizational culture. Their behaviors must reflect the values they wish to see flourish within the company.

Although many organizations have a well-defined list of values, managers don’t always put them into practice consistently. However, in companies where managers act in line with values, workers feel a greater sense of security and confidence. This positive climate enables employees to thrive and be more engaged in their work, which in turn boosts productivity and talent retention.

Ultimately, a recognition and engagement strategy centered on the organization’s values helps to anchor them in your employees and managers at all levels. By recognizing positive behaviors that reflect your company’s values, you’ll help create a harmonious corporate culture aligned with its mission. This in turn strengthens employee commitment and team cohesion, which inevitably translates into positive results for the company. In the end, everyone wins.