15 Strong Company Values: A Guide to Building a Positive Culture

In a 2023 survey of more than 5,000 U.S. workers, Pew Research Center found that only half (51%) are very satisfied with their jobs. While most employees say they are satisfied with their relationships at work, there is a large disconnect between interpersonal interactions and the way they view the long-term opportunities in their companies.

For HR managers tasked with maintaining company culture, a strong set of core values can be key to keeping the culture on track.

To help you think about and evaluate your company's values, we've compiled a list of the best examples of company values from organizations large and small. Read on to discover examples that will help you think about your company's core values.

9 examples of corporate values from large organizations

For larger companies, keeping corporate culture on track can be a real challenge. As the number of employees increases, so does the diversity of experiences, perspectives, behaviors, beliefs and much more.

Without a clear set of core values, it is impossible to maintain a consistent culture that everyone in the company can get behind.

Here are some examples of large companies that have defined guiding values for their employees.

Amazon

Amazon's corporate values describe the things the best leaders do:

• Being right, very much
• Inclination to act
• Customer obsession
• Deliver results
• Dive deep
• Gain trust
• Thrift
• Have backbone; contradict and get involved
• Hire and develop the best employees
• Insist on the highest standards
• Invent and simplify
• Learn and be curious
• Individual responsibility
• Strive to be the best employer in the world
• Success and greatness bring with them comprehensive responsibility
• Think big

When employees think and act like managers, they are better able to earn and maintain customer trust. Leaders tend to think long-term and never stop learning. They raise the bar for themselves and everyone they work with, are not afraid to take risks, and find ways to innovate and do more with less.

Apple

Apple's values emphasize the breadth, depth and scope of the impact its products and services have on the world:

• Accessibility
• Education
• Environment
• Inclusion and diversity
• Data protection
• Racial equality and justice
• Responsibility for suppliers

Apple's corporate values have evolved over the years - a good indication that your company (and its culture) will also evolve and change over time. The process of creating and defining company values should be ongoing, so don't be afraid to make adjustments as needed.

Ben & Jerry's

Ben & Jerry's is one of the most famous ice cream brands in the world. Since its inception, the company has sought to use its business to make the world a better place.

Ben & Jerry's core values guide the company's efforts to achieve this noble goal:

• Promoting human rights and human dignity
• Protecting and restoring Earth's natural systems
• Support social and economic justice

Costco

When you enter a Costco store, you will see a large warehouse that is designed to be as clear as possible to make it as easy as possible for you to find the goods and services you need. The company's approach to its core values is also deliberately kept simple:

• Obey the law
• Take care of our members
• Take care of our employees
• Respect our suppliers

Disney

The mission statement of The Walt Disney Company, one of the world's most recognized brands, is "to entertain, inform and inspire people through the power of unparalleled stories." This simple, succinct statement reflects Disney's focus on its customers, but also its trust in the employees who make this mission a reality.

With a diverse portfolio of businesses - including theme parks, film and television studios, news media and streaming services - Disney's culture and values are designed to adapt to any type of business. Disney designs work environments for employees at all levels that:

• Continuously adapt to the evolving needs of employees
• Drive innovation
• Arouse optimism
• Put responsibility for an inclusive culture in the hands of managers and employees alike

Google

Google knows that search is its core strength, and accordingly the company's values are shaped by search. Google uses its search expertise to deliver a user experience that transcends borders and languages and meets users where they are regardless of whether users are advertisers or web surfers.

Google uses great search technology as a starting point for finding opportunities to innovate in every area of the company.

But as Google's values show, the company's success also rests on its ability to promote diversity and creative approaches to work, play and life:

• Democracy on the web works
• Fast is better than slow
• Focus on the user and everything else will follow
• Great just isn't good enough
• It's best to do one thing really, really well
• The need for information crosses borders
• There is more and more information out there
• You can be serious without wearing a suit
• You can make money without doing evil
• You don't have to be at your desk to need an answer

Netflix

The corporate culture at Netflix encourages employees to make decisions, share information openly and consciously, and communicate openly and directly:

• Communication
• Courage
• Curiosity
• Incorporation
• Innovation
• Integrity
• Discernment
• Altruism
• Passion

With these values in mind, Netflix strives to employ only its highest performing employees and to promote self-discipline and responsibility without rigid rules.

Patagonia

As Patagonia celebrates its 50th anniversary, company leadership reviewed and updated the company's core values to reflect who they want to be in the next fifty years.

Patagonia's values, which emphasize quality, integrity, environmental protection, justice and freedom from convention, are:

• To be just, fair and anti-racist as a company and in our community
• Making the best product, providing the best service and constantly improving everything we do
• We do it our way
• We examine our practices openly and honestly, learn from our mistakes and honor our commitments
• Protect our home planet

Starbucks

Starbucks began by recognizing the importance of connection - not only with its customers, but also with its now international team of baristas and employees. The coffee giant's corporate values include:

• Act boldly, challenge the status quo and find new ways to promote the company and each other
• Be present, connect with transparency, dignity and respect
• Creating a culture of warmth and belonging where everyone is welcome
• Do the best in everything you do and take responsibility for the results

This focus on connection explains why Starbucks refers to its employees as "partners," reinforcing the understanding that each employee contributes to the company's shared success.

Next steps: your company values

With these excellent examples as your guide, you can now begin to evaluate your own core values to achieve a unified direction for your company. Think about where your business started, where it is today and where you want to be in the future.

If you don't yet know your company values, this is the ideal time to identify the informal values that already exist in your company.

These can help you create a formalized, written set of core values that you will communicate throughout your organization.

Establishing strong company values is the cornerstone of a positive organizational culture. Inspired by examples from leading companies, crafting values that resonate with your team is essential for sustained success. Join with IceHrm for more tips.