Developing Motivating Core Values for Your Startup

There are several foundational factors that must be established when building a startup company. The culture of your company (business or nonprofit startup) will be established through your core values. In today’s blog post, I discuss how to develop motivating core values for your startup.

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Developing Your Core Values

Core values may be defined as the principles that guide the decisions and actions at every level of your work. Those guiding principles help to define what your business stands for. Your core values should support the vision and shape the culture of your business. Sometimes core values can be established as an extension of a company’s overall mission. There is not a set number of core values that a company needs. However, you want your employees to be able to understand and remember each one. So, keep that in mind.

In developing your core values, provide answers to the following four key questions:

• What values would you stand by with your business, no matter what?
• What values do you demonstrate in your own personal leadership?
• What principles will be most important for you and your employees as daily decisions are made?
• What values support your current mission and vision?

Most Common Company Core Values

While the following are common core values, this is not a complete list. You should identify core values that are the best fit for your company and the behaviors you want to see from your team of staff.

• Integrity
• Boldness
• Honesty
• Trust
• Accountability
• Commitment to Customers
• Passion
• Fun
• Humility
• Continuous Learning
• Ownership
• Constant Improvement
• Leadership
• Diversity
• Innovation
• Quality
• Teamwork
• Simplicity

Examples of Core Values

Gusto’s core values form all aspects of how they run their company. Their core values are:

• Ownership mentality
• Don’t optimize for the short term
• We are all builders
• Go the extra mile
• Do what’s right

Zappos’ core values are:

• Deliver WOW Through Service
• Embrace and Drive Change
• Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
• Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
• Pursue Growth and Learning
• Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
• Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
• Do More With Less
• Be Passionate and Determined
• Be Humble

Adobe’s core values are:

Genuine: Sincere, trustworthy and reliable

Exceptional: Committed to creating exceptional experiences that delight our employees and customers

Innovative: Highly creative and always striving to connect new ideas with business realities

Involved: Inclusive, open and actively engaged with our customers, partners, employees and the communities we serve

Next Steps

Do you need help with developing core values for your startup business or nonprofit organization? There are currently two product options available that has activities available to help you with this task and also write your overall business plan. Download your copy of The Ultimate Journal Planner for Starting Your Nonprofit if you are looking to start a nonprofit organization or get a copy of The Ultimate Journal Planner to Start Your Business.

Questions to Consider

What are your thoughts? Please share your answers to the following two questions in the comments section below. Thanks!

1- How do you plan to use the information from this blog post?

2- What additional questions or informational tips would be helpful to you in starting your profitable business or nonprofit organization?