Awardco Values
We recently revamped our core company values. As we thought about launching them both internally and externally, we knew we wanted them to be two things: simple and meaningful.
The hope was that they’d improve the strong culture we already have at Awardco. We wanted to choose values that are relevant both to our company as a whole and the individuals who work here. We also wanted them to work long term and for an international audience.
Why Should You Have Company Values?
Are company values that important or are they just words to put on your office wall? When done right, they can improve your company culture and keep employees engaged. Studies have shown that a strong company culture is one of the most important things to employees.
Company values focus efforts and provide a frame of reference. Across the company, people can ask, “Does this align with our values?” when making decisions. They unify purpose and provide common goals. Everyone knows what they’re working towards and what is most important to the company.
How Do You Come Up With Company Values?
This may seem like a no-brainer, but your company values should reflect the things that your company values most. What is important to your organization? It might be helpful to look at what other companies are doing, but you should also make them unique to your organization.
We started by listing attributes. We gathered a committee of people throughout the company together and brainstormed a few questions:
- What is “Awardco?”
- What is NOT “Awardco?”
- What qualities do we currently instill in our people?
- What qualities should we instill in our people?
From there, we made a big list of attributes. We rewrote that list a few times, making it shorter, and then longer, and then shorter again. We knew we wanted to keep it simple, so we decided on three main points that we’re calling “the Awardco Way” in addition to a list of values.
Our Values
For us, it was easy to know where to start. Since we’re a recognition and rewards company we definitely made sure that was a part of our purpose and values.
After consulting with several people on the types of attributes we wanted, it was the Marketing and Creative Team’s job to make them snazzy and memorable. We went through iterations like, “Should we call them the ABCs of Awardco?” “Should they be words or phrases?” “Should we use puns?” “Can we use swear words...just kidding...unless?”
Finally, we broke our values down into the following three categories, from broad to specific. We defined 1. Our purpose 2. “The Awardco Way” and 3. A list of attributes we value and want to recognize people for. Without further ado, here they are.
Awardco’s Purpose
We exist to recognize the good in each of us and reward the value we bring to each other.
The Awardco Way
Introducing the Awardco Way. The three things that sum up who we are and who we strive to be.
Recognize the Good. We are optimistic and hopeful. We see the good in others and ourselves and recognize it when we see it. We work together to create a more positive world.
Do Great Things. We are bold and brave. We’re not afraid to do what no one else has done before. We create great products and great experiences.
Be Even Better. We are empowered and growth-minded. We push to make ourselves and Awardco better. We hold each other accountable because we’re better together.
Awardco Values
These are the attributes we value and the things we intend to encourage through recognition. When someone is recognizing a team member in the Awardco platform, they can tag one (or more) of these.
- Initiative
- Teamwork
- Grit
- Creativity
- No Ego
- Problem-solving
- Enthusiasm
- Extraordinary Effort
- Results
These qualities can be changed easily as our company grows, and we can easily add values for quarterly or yearly focuses. Meanwhile, our “Awardco Way” will remain our company focus. We can’t wait to see how it motivates us to be even better.
