What sets truly great companies apart isn’t just their products or profits — it’s their culture. And at the heart of that culture are clearly defined core values. These values serve as the compass for behavior, decision-making, and leadership. They tell employees what the company stands for and show customers what they can expect.
If you’re working to build a stronger internal culture or redefine your company identity, looking at how successful organizations articulate their values can be incredibly helpful. In this article, we’ll explore how core values shape workplace culture and share 50 inspiring examples from companies that live and breathe them.
Why Core Values Matter in the Workplace
Core values aren’t just words on a wall or a page in your employee handbook. When actively practiced, they:
- Foster alignment across teams and departments
- Guide hiring, promotion, and leadership decisions
- Shape company reputation and brand loyalty
- Provide clarity during difficult decisions
- Create a shared sense of purpose and belonging
In a culture where employees feel connected to their company’s values, productivity tends to rise, turnover decreases, and innovation flourishes.
Mission, Vision, and Values – What’s the Difference?
It’s common to confuse a company’s mission, vision, and values. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Mission is what the company does.
- Vision is where the company is going.
- Values are how the company behaves along the way.
While your mission might evolve and your vision may shift over time, your values should remain a consistent foundation for culture and conduct.
50 Powerful Company Core Values Examples
Whether you’re a startup or a global brand, these examples can spark ideas and inspire clarity. Some companies list just a few values; others build full cultures around them.
Real Company Examples
1. Google
- Focus on the user and all else will follow
- It’s best to do one thing really, really well
- Great just isn’t good enough
2. Netflix
- People over process
- Freedom and responsibility
- Curiosity
3. Patagonia
- Build the best product
- Cause no unnecessary harm
- Use business to protect nature
4. Zappos
- Deliver WOW through service
- Create fun and a little weirdness
- Pursue growth and learning
5. Salesforce
- Trust
- Customer success
- Innovation
- Equality
General Core Value Ideas
Here are some strong and adaptable values that may fit your team:
- Integrity
- Accountability
- Excellence
- Transparency
- Agility
- Inclusion
- Respect
- Ownership
- Creativity
- Teamwork
- Customer-centricity
- Sustainability
- Learning and growth
- Boldness
- Community impact
Use these as inspiration but make sure your final list is authentic and specific to your organization.
How to Define and Implement Your Core Values
1. Start with your team
Gather insights from across departments. Ask employees: “What behaviors do we value most here?” or “What traits define our best team moments?”
2. Keep them short and clear
Avoid jargon or vague language. Values should be memorable and actionable.
3. Tie values to everyday actions
Instead of generic words like “excellence,” define what that means for your team. For example: “We take ownership of problems, not just tasks.”
4. Reinforce them consistently
Make your values part of onboarding, performance reviews, recognition programs, and leadership communication.
5. Lead by example
Culture starts at the top. Leaders should model company values in their decisions and interactions.
Core values aren’t a checklist — they’re your company’s voice, character, and conscience. Defining them with clarity and living them with consistency is one of the most powerful steps you can take to build a culture people believe in.
