The Importance of Company Values: Striking the Balance Between Aspiration and Reality
Company values are meant to be the guiding principles that shape the culture, drive decision-making, and inspire teams. But there's a fine line between aspirational values and those that genuinely reflect how the company operates.
When values are not truly lived—when they don't align with the day-to-day experience of employees—they lose their meaning. They aren't values at all. Instead, they can become hollow statements that breed cynicism, disengagement, and even resentment within the body of staff.
The most effective values are those that resonate with every level of the company and truly represent how people work, interact, and succeed together. They need to be more than words on a wall or a catchy phrase on your website; they should be integrated into the fabric of the organisation.
In creating these values, it's essential to consider all stakeholders—because company culture isn't just defined by senior leadership or a select few. It's the collective experience of the entire community of colleagues that shapes what it means to work together. It's about how individuals, teams, and departments connect and collaborate to create an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
At the end of the day, it’s not about simply sharing the same logo on your payslip. It’s about embodying the values that truly bring people together and reflect the best of what the company is—and what it can be.
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