1. The values of the company should reflect the values of the staff
Company values are more important than we think, as they create the cultural context in which we work, define how we interact with other employees and the attitudes we adopt towards customers. Company values are often perceived as imposed by the organization, but an effective organizational culture allows a two-way process to occur in which employees help influence the direction of the corporate value system, through their beliefs and approaches. individual adopting. An organization that does not adjust to reflect changing values will quickly stagnate and become obsolete.
2. Company values define how employees behave
Company values are essential to the daily approach employees take in the workplace. Different organizations can encourage different behaviors in their staff through their company values. For example, an organization that has clearly defined policies on employee conduct and behavior is likely to create a culture in which respect for other staff and customers or clients is high on the agenda.
Alternatively, an organization that has few formal policies regarding staff behavior in the workplace leaves it to the individual employee to define their own sense of what is and is not appropriate. This can lead to conflict with other staff members, as one individual’s concept of acceptable behavior can differ greatly from that of another colleague.
3. Company values bring stability
Employees like to work in a stable and safe workplace. Company values create order and allow the work environment to run smoothly. Without company values, there would be no uniform process for achieving goals or dealing with situations that arise, leaving staff feeling exposed and vulnerable. When company values exist, they provide employees with a clearly defined approach to working life.
4. Company values are important to customers
Company values are not only important to employees, but also to customers. Some clients choose to use the services of one company over another because of the value base they have decided to follow. Those organizations that take ethical approaches to their business dealings by offering fair trade agreements, or are perceived as less exploitative, often benefit more in the long run from customer loyalty than those that just seek to make a quick buck at any cost.
Nowhere is this highlighted more acutely than in Chinese companies, which over the past five years have produced billions of dollars in cheap goods with little or no regard for employee well-being, the effect their divestment is having. resources in other countries and lack of respect. for health and safety guidelines.
Only recently are Western consumers realizing that the company values of many, but not all, of these Chinese companies are more profit-oriented than safety-oriented.
5. Company values provide a standard approach
Customers also like to know what they are getting, and company values often play a role in this process. Take, for example, a company like MacDonald’s. They have clear values on how they interact with customers, and their business approach is nearly identical across the world. You know that if you walk into a MacDonald’s restaurant in Russia, the UK, Australia, the US, or anywhere in the world, you are likely to be treated the same way. Clients are like that because they like to know what they are getting and company values are important to achieving it.
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Finally, we must remember that a company is only as good as its constituent parts, in this case its employees. If the employees didn’t come to work, the company wouldn’t exist. As such a company is not an entity unto itself, it cannot think or act for itself and therefore its values are in fact only a reflection of what its employees consider important. As such, organizational culture or values need to constantly change to accommodate the diverse needs of your staff.