“Values are beliefs. . . ”

“Values are beliefs about what’s important and what kinds of behaviors reflect that importance. Since companies cannot—and should not—dictate every move an employee makes, values can serve as the North Star that guides actions and decisions. They come to life through the actions of leaders, and leading people to make the right choices when no one else is around. . .

Values are both formal and informal. They are formal in that they can be written down, displayed, and fleshed out in elaborate memoranda. However, it’s the informal organization that is responsible for elevating values from admirable statements to a way of life. In a values-driven organization, the values are shared and promoted not just through formal means but by people who act consistently and communicate constantly, simultaneously ‘walking the talk’ and ‘talking the walk.’

Values help organizations outperform their competitors.

Not surprisingly, very few organizations can legitimately claim to be truly values driven.”