You're struggling to align your brand values internally. How can you effectively get your employees on board?

CEOs, struggling with brand alignment? Instead of a boring presentation, you can try the following ideas to ignite a brand bonfire! 1. Actions speak louder. Embed brand values in daily interactions. Recognize employees who embody them. 2. Make onboarding about uncovering your values! Design fun activities where new hires discover your brand DNA. 3. Make Values the Centerpiece. Integrate brand values into performance reviews, team meetings, and project planning. 4, Not everyone is a CEO. Empower employees at all levels to share stories of how they embody the brand values in their daily work. 5. Host a "Values in Action" day where employees brainstorm ways to integrate your brand values into their work or communities

Forget dry adjectives and abstract nouns when it comes to values. Turn them into verbs your team can use every day. "Innovation" becomes "spark change" and "experiment fearlessly." Values aren't just words on the wall. Living these values in each role is key. For example, The salesperson might proactively elicit customer needs to craft bespoke solutions, embodying both customer focus and innovation. By translating values into specific actions for every position, your team transforms into a powerful force. This focus ensures they deliver on your brand promise, achieve your mission, reach your vision, and fulfill your organization's core purpose.

Clarify and Define Core Brand Values Start by clearly defining your brand’s core values and ensuring that they are well-articulated and understood internally. Organize workshops or brainstorming sessions with key employees to discuss and refine these values. For example, if one of your brand values is sustainability, have sessions where you outline what sustainability means for your brand, how it influences your operations, and why it is essential. Document these values in a brand manifesto or a set of guidelines that is easily accessible to all employees. By involving employees in the process of defining these values, you ensure that they feel a sense of ownership and alignment from the start.

I have always believed that employees are your brand's first customers and, indeed, the first ambassadors, employees come first. Imagine having 2500 employees as brand advocates; if 50% of the employees on social media put that brand on their page, you have 1250 posts. If 3 people per employee see the brand's posts, that means 1250 X 3 = 3750 people have seen your brand. Getting employees on board with the company's core values requires communication, a welcoming environment, acknowledgement and continuous assistance. Successful approaches include outlining these values, offering updates, setting a good example, having transparent leadership, engaging employees in decisions, and championing diversity and inclusivity.

Create a "Values Ambassador" program where employees from different departments volunteer to champion specific brand values. They can organize activities, share success stories, and act as liaisons between leadership and their teams for value-related initiatives. For example, in a retail chain, store managers could take turns being monthly "Customer First" ambassadors, organizing activities to improve customer experience based on this core value.

Actively Involve Employees in Embracing Brand Values Engage your employees by integrating brand values into everyday work practices and company culture. Start with comprehensive onboarding programs that emphasize these values to new hires, ensuring they understand and embody them from day one. Regularly communicate these values through internal newsletters, meetings, and visual reminders around the workplace. For example, use posters, digital screens, or internal communication platforms to share stories and examples of employees who exemplify the brand values. Encourage employees to share their own stories and experiences that align with the brand values, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

To effectively engage employees with your brand values, start by integrating these values into everyday work practices. Create interactive sessions where employees discuss how they can incorporate these values into their roles. Recognize and celebrate value-aligned behaviors through formal recognition programs and informal acknowledgments. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and relevance, making the values more meaningful. By measuring employee engagement and morale, you can directly tie these efforts to business performance and growth.

Implement a "Values in Action" case study series. Regularly share real examples of how your company's values influenced business decisions or customer interactions. This helps employees understand the practical application of values in various scenarios. A financial services firm could share how their "Transparency" value led them to simplify their fee structure, resulting in increased customer trust and retention.

Rewarding alignment is crucial. Recognizing and rewarding employees who embody brand values encourages others to follow suit. Whether through formal recognition programs, bonuses, or simple verbal acknowledgment, appreciation for value-aligned actions reinforces their importance. Think of it like watering a garden—when you water the flowers (recognize aligned behavior), they bloom beautifully (employees embrace the values). This creates a positive cycle that cements the brand values within your company's culture. This is one of the key highlights!

Consider embedding brand values into your company's physical and digital environments. Design office spaces, create screensavers, and develop internal communication tools that visually reinforce your values. This constant, subtle exposure helps internalize the values in employees' daily experiences. For example, a tech company could create collaborative spaces named after their core values to reinforce these concepts daily.

Aligning brand values internally is crucial for creating a cohesive and authentic brand 1. Lead by Example: Internal brand alignment begins with the executive team. Leaders should embody the brand values in their actions and decisions⁵. 2. Clear Communication: Ensure that your brand values are clearly communicated to all employees. Use various channels such as meetings, newsletters, and internal portals to reinforce these values³. 5. Create Brand Ambassadors: Identify and empower employees who naturally embody the brand values to act as brand ambassadors. 7. Foster a Sense of Purpose: Align your brand with a purpose that resonates with employees. This helps build a deeper emotional connection and commitment to the brand values.