Examples of company values: how to define yours + 17 inspirations

Ever walked into a store or browsed a website and noticed a section describing some principles? Well, those are examples of company values. But do you precisely understand what this means? And does your business have well-defined organizational values?

To build and reinforce corporate culture, alongside mission and vision, it is crucial to clearly establish a set of values that guide the behavior of employees at various hierarchical levels and the decision-making of leadership.

Together with the company mission and vision, values shape one of the pillars sustaining the organization’s identity and serve as the foundation for developing business strategies.

To illustrate the significance of these concepts, we have prepared the following article, where we will explain:

• what company values are; 
• tips on defining company values;
• 17 inspiring examples of values from famous companies. 

Keep reading to learn more!

Firstly, what are company values? 

Company values are a set of corporate beliefs and principles that guide the behavior of organization members. They reflect what the company believes in, advocates for, and holds dear, while also connecting with how the organization aims to be perceived by stakeholders.

Strategic decisions are made based on these organizational values, making the definition of values directly linked to strategic planning.

To assist you in executing and defining strategic planning, you may like to read: do you know about strategic planning? Find out by answering these 3 questions

If you want to learn how to describe a company’s values, keep reading and check out the key tips we have prepared for you!

How to define a company’s values?

Organizational values must be clearly defined and widely communicated among shareholders, directors, managers, and employees. But how do you describe a company’s values? First and foremost, the company should establish 5 to 7 values it won’t compromise on.

To achieve this, there are some tips that can help you:

• define values clearly and concisely for easy understanding;
• connect values to the organization’s long-term goals;
• advocate for values that resonate with the business’s target audience and relate to the solution the company provides;
• make values visible to everyone;
• select values that help differentiate your company from competitors.

For instance, Google is a company known for its well-defined operational guidelines and values. With that in mind, here are some suggestions from the company itself that can inspire you in defining your business’s values:

Google tips for a successful team! // 1. Confidence. How comfortable do you feel taking risks on your team without feeling insecure or embarrassed? // 2. Trust. Can you trust your co-workers and count on them to assume their responsibilities? // 3. Impact of work. Do you believe in the work you’re doing? // 4. Structure and clarity. Are your goals and roles clearly defined? // 5. Meaning of work. Is everyone on the team working towards something that is personally important to them?

Interested in discovering more about a company’s values? To further insights, keep reading and explore the 17 examples we have compiled for you!

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Organizational strategy: a key to achieving company goals

17 inspiring examples of company values

Now it is time to explore 17 examples of values from famous companies, providing you with inspiration when defining your own organizational values.

We have brought you examples from prominent companies in the food, technology, entertainment, and fashion sectors, ensuring a diverse range for your consideration. Take a look!

Read also: employer branding: embrace this powerful strategy to unlock success!

1. Vale

Vale’s values include:

• acting with integrity;
• putting life first;
• valuing those who integrate our company;
• growing and evolving together;
• taking care of our planet;
• making things happen.

2. Adidas

Adidas describes its values as:

• encouraging discipline and humility;
• embracing inclusion in all global communities;
• authenticity;
• commitment;
• honesty.

3. Nike

Nike embraces these values:

• innovation;
• modernity;
• customer-centric focus;
• combating prejudices in sports;
• encouraging new achievements and challenges.

Learn more: 

Organizational communication: how to improve your relationship with employees

4. Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola’s values are:

• innovation;
• leadership;
• responsibility;
• integrity;
• passion;
• collaboration;
• diversity;
• quality.

5. Cacau Show

Cacau Show describes its values as:

• passion for achievement;
• doing more with less;
• innovation;
• attention to details.

6. Kopenhagen

Kopenhagen’s values encompass:

• interactive leadership;
• teamwork;
• proactivity;
• quality;
• ethics;
• respect.

7. Avon

Avon’s values consist of:

• trust;
• respect;
• belief;
• humility;
• integrity.

8. Natura

Natura defines its corporate values as:

• humanism;
• creativity;
• balance;
• transparency.

9. Gerdau

For Gerdau, the values encompass:

• people safety above everything else;
• respect;
• commitment;
• excellence with simplicity;
• results oriented approach;
• integrity with all stakeholders;
• economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

You may also enjoy reading: continuous improvement: everything you should know

10. Petrobras

These are Petrobras’ corporate values:

• respect for life, people, and the environment;
• ethics and transparency;
• market orientation;
• improvement and confidence;
• results achievement.

11. Itaú

Check out Itaú’s values:

• it is only good for us if it is good for the customer;
• uncompromising ethics;
• simplicity;
• people are everything to us.

12. HSBC

Discover HSBC’s values:

• upholding the highest ethical standards;
• clear and precise communication;
• teamwork;
• consistency and focus;
• transparency.

13. Nestlé

Nestlé’s values include:

• enhancing relationships with customers and suppliers;
• quality and continuous products and services improvement;
• focus on customer satisfaction;
• appreciation and engagement of human resources;
• commitment to truth;
• ethical behavior.

14. Disney

Disney’s values center around:

• creativity;
• dreams;
• imagination.

15. Microsoft

At Microsoft, these values are:

• passion for technology;
• integrity;
• honesty;
• openness and respect;
• critical thinking;
• responsibility.

Read also: people management in organizations: how to implement it effectively?

16. Apple

For Apple, it is all about upholding the following values:

• environmental commitment;
• supplier responsibility;
• inclusion and diversity;
• accessibility;
• privacy;
• security.

17. Samsung

Lastly, for Samsung, their values encompass:

• people;
• excellence;
• change;
• integrity;
• prosperity for all.

Did you like these examples of company values? Make sure to use them as inspiration and also implement our tips for defining your own business’s organizational values.

Furthermore, we have an extra tip. During the process of structuring your company’s values, it is ideal to leverage a strategic planning system to optimize your actions and enhance results.

An efficient business management system streamlines team performance monitoring and centralizes key metrics, keeping all data organized. Thanks to this, you can focus on making informed decisions.

The good news is there is a software that delivers all this and more: STRATWs One. With it, you and your managers can improve work routines and engage the entire team. Take advantage of a free try out to see how it works in practice!

Schedule a free try out of Siteware’s strategic management software: STRATWs One // REQUEST A FREE TRY OUT