Let’s face it, most company values suck. A corporate snoozefest if you will. The classic value trifecta of “respect”, “integrity” and “communication” have graced the walls of our cubicle-lined offices since the early 2000s. The cubicles have long since been dismantled, but the values remain.
Just ask Enron, who happened to have respect, integrity and communication as part of its core values. We all know. Claiming integrity as a value isn’t a fraud prevention mechanism. It didn’t stop the corrupt behaviour that led to Enron’s downfall. When I think about good company values, they go far beyond the baseline. They reflect your culture when it’s at its best. And, better yet, they don’t need to be boring. The best ones are as unique as the company’s brand identity. They mean something to your people.Atlassian’s core values are up there with my all-time favourites: “open company, no bullsh--”, “be the change you seek” and “play as a team”. These are the behaviours they want to be known for, but it’s more than that.