How company values shape your day-to-day work life
You’ve probably seen company values displayed on posters around the office or mentioned during team meetings. Words like ‘respect’, ‘integrity’, or ‘teamwork’ are common, but do they really make a difference in your daily work life? The short answer is: they should. When values are genuinely embedded into the company culture, they can have a huge positive impact. But it’s up to everyone — not just leaders — to bring them to life.
Stronger connections with coworkers. When everyone’s rallying around the same values, you’re more likely to build meaningful working relationships.
Direction and purpose. Values give your work life a sense of direction and purpose. It’s easier to understand your role and why it matters in the bigger picture.
Less confusion, more clarity. When values are clear, you know what’s expected of you, and you can get a clearer picture of why certain decisions are made.
Be a quiet advocate. Even if you’re not a leader, you can still lead by example. Quietly model the values through your work ethic, your interactions, and how you handle challenges.
Engage with the culture. Look for opportunities to bring your company’s values to life in your work. For example, how can you lean on values in meetings, decision-making, or how you interact with teammates?
Give a little extra. If you have a bit of extra time or capacity, offer support to a coworker who might need it, even if it’s outside your direct responsibilities.
For leaders, it’s important to take this a step further and actively weave values into the daily routines and decisions of the team.
Make values visible in daily conversations. Regularly reference your company values in meetings and communications. Show how they apply in real situations and decisions, helping people see their relevance.
Recognise and reward value-driven actions. Celebrate when employees make decisions or take actions that align with company values.
Provide opportunities for feedback. Create open channels where your people can share whether they feel values are working well.
Embed values in decision-making. Use values as a framework when making decisions, big and small.
When values are more than just words, they shape how we show up, work together, and make decisions. They act like a North Star. Whether you’re leading a team or part of one, living the company values makes work better for all.