Don't Just Hang Your Core Values: Live Them

In this episode of the Industry Edge podcast, host Danielle Neely discusses the importance of not just having core values but actively living them within an organization. She emphasizes that core values should be integrated into hiring practices, rewarded, communicated regularly, and made tangible for employees. Through real-life examples, such as the BOLD campaign at Toyota Material Handling Mid-South, Danielle illustrates how living core values can lead to a stronger company culture, higher employee morale, and better retention rates.

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Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[00:00] Introduction to Core Values

[02:36] Living Core Values in Hiring Practices

[05:38] Rewarding and Recognizing Core Values

[08:16] Communicating and Experiencing Core Values

[09:33] Case Study: BOLD Campaign at Toyota Material Handling Mid-South

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Quotable moments:

"Values are more than just posters."

"Reward them often and publicly."

"Repetition builds that reputation."

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Key Takeaways: 

• Core values should be actively lived, not just displayed.

• Hiring practices should reflect the company's core values.

• Rewarding employees for embodying values boosts morale.

• Regular communication about values keeps them relevant.

• Visual representations of values enhance employee engagement.

• Real-life examples of values in action inspire others.

• Creating initiatives around values can lead to significant cultural changes.

• Employee recognition should be specific and public.

• Values should be integrated into everyday decision-making.

• Leadership must embody the values for them to resonate.

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Action Steps:

To embed core values into your organization’s culture, begin with leadership. Values must be consistently embodied at the top for them to be taken seriously throughout the team. Leaders should model these values in both their actions and decisions, demonstrating that they are not just words on a wall but standards for how business is done. Integrate these values into your hiring process by selecting candidates whose behavior and mindset already reflect your company’s principles. This ensures culture fit from day one.

Once onboard, reinforce values through regular communication; discuss them in team meetings, performance reviews, and internal messaging so they stay top-of-mind. Use visual cues like posters, screensavers, or dashboards to keep them present in the day-to-day environment. Encourage engagement by sharing real-life stories of how values are being lived out across departments. This not only inspires but also provides tangible examples for others to emulate.

Reward employees who exemplify core values with specific and public recognition. Avoid generic praise; name the value they demonstrated and explain how it made a difference. This kind of affirmation strengthens morale and signals what behaviors are celebrated. Go further by creating initiatives or campaigns that focus on living out specific values across teams; whether it’s a month focused on collaboration or a challenge around integrity. These efforts foster collective buy-in and lead to measurable cultural shifts.

Ultimately, when values are consistently modeled, reinforced, and celebrated, they become deeply integrated into the way your team thinks, interacts, and makes decisions—turning abstract ideals into actionable culture.

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Sponsor for this episode:

This episode is brought to you by KNC Marketing.

We help B2B industrial companies grow their brands’ reach and increase sales.

KNC is a full-service agency that partners with B2B businesses to either serve as a fully outsourced marketing department or to supplement their in-house marketing departments. 

To learn more about our brand development, marketing, and website design services, visit https://kncmarketingagency.com/.