How To Communicate Company Values to Employees
Do your colleagues know your organisation’s values? Do they live them?
Strong internal communications aren’t a nice-to-have – they are the backbone of a connected, high-performing business.
Clarity and consistency around your company’s values – especially at times of change – can make the difference between teams feeling aligned, motivated and valued or disconnected, demoralised and undervalued.
At RMS, we work with a wide range of organisations – from household brands to ambitious owner-managed businesses – helping them bring their values to life in a way that truly resonates with their people.
How we help you communicate company values
It starts with listening.
We carry out research (which needn’t be as scary as it sounds) among teams to understand how people feel about their organisation and its values:
- Are they clearly communicated and genuinely understood?
- Are they evident in day-to-day life?
- Do they resonate with the team?
- If not, why not?
It’s essential that everyone understands the company’s values and that they’re embedded into every business decision.
At this point, you might have your values nailed; they might perfectly represent the business you are today. On the other hand, you may need our help to really hone your values based on what our research reveals.
Either way, values should always be specific and actionable and a true reflection of your business and its ethos – not just generic phrases stuck on a wall.
Choose the right communication channels
We help identify the channels employees actually want to engage with. This always throws up some surprises!
It might be that they appreciate an intranet hub, closed WhatsApp group or instant messaging system like a Teams or Slack channel. Many organisations have developed dedicated employee apps which can be very effective.
Your team may appreciate regular town halls or the chance to share their feedback via anonymous surveys.
In terms of reward, they might appreciate grand annual values award ceremonies or more modest but regular gestures might make them feel just as valued.
Build an activity calendar
From there, we build a calendar of activity, tailored to your organisation and its people and designed to reinforce your company values. This activity needs to be delivered in a way that feels natural, easy to understand and genuinely engaging.
Communication can take many forms, including:
- Posters, emails and video content
- Team briefings and leadership messaging
- Value walls and desk drops
- Creative campaigns that keep values front of mind
Communicate values authentically
But it’s not just about visibility, it’s about authenticity. In our experience, when values are lived, not just listed, they shape culture, drive behaviour and strengthen performance.
Values need to be embedded into the employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding, through training and development to performance reviews and recognition programmes.
Frequently asked questions
How do you embed company values into workplace culture?
Values become culture when they’re visible and consistent across every touchpoint. That means weaving them into recruitment, onboarding, day-to-day management and recognition – not just internal campaigns. When leaders model the values and teams see them reflected in real decisions, they start to stick.
What are the most effective internal communication channels for sharing company values?
It depends on your organisation and your people. Some teams respond well to digital channels like intranets, Teams or dedicated employee apps. Others value face-to-face town halls or regular small group sessions. The key is finding out what your people actually use – which is exactly what our research helps establish.
How do you know if your internal communications are working?
The signs are usually visible: higher engagement scores, lower turnover, fewer misunderstandings during periods of change. We help organisations track these signals and adjust their communications approach accordingly.
If your organisation is going through change or simply wants to reconnect people with what you stand for, we’d love to help.