Values in Action: How Company Culture Drives Business Success

If your people are the heart of your business, then your company culture is the lifeblood. All those shared beliefs, values and practices in your organization are shaped by the company’s vision, its mission, and, perhaps most importantly, by its core values. And when a culture is strong, it brings everyone together around common goals and sets the tone for success.

At bswift^®, we know that when team members are engaged and aligned with the company’s values, we do great work and see amazing results. According to Gallup, highly engaged teams see a host of benefits, including 18 to 43% lower turnover and 23% higher profitability.

These statistics underscore a critical truth—culture isn’t simply a buzzword, it’s a business imperative.

Your Values Are Your Foundation

At bswift, our mission is to become the preeminent benefits administrator through exceptional people, innovative technology, and delighted customers. Our vision is to improve the benefits experience for everyone. But every company has a mission statement and a vision statement. Big whoop. Right? That’s where values come in. Our mission and our vision set the destination, but it’s our values that guide the way there.  

In a recent internal project dubbed “Mission to Mars,” we were inspired by the ideas presented in Jim Collins’ book Built to Last. Collins’ “Mars Group” exercise is a way to uncover an organization’s authentic core values—not by picturing what you wish your values were, but by recognizing the values that already exist within your team.  

When we imagined starting bswift from scratch on another planet, we rediscovered the core values that have shaped us and continue to guide us toward success. These values remain the foundation of everything we do: 

• Pursue Excellence: We commit to the highest standards, continuously raising the bar for ourselves.
• Embrace Accountability: We keep our promises, learn from setbacks and expect the best from each other.
• Deliver Superior Service: We offer thoughtful solutions and outstanding, swift service that exceeds the expectations of clients, partners and one another.
• Be A Great Place to Work: We create a fun, vibrant workplace by celebrating success, fostering connections and welcoming authenticity.

Our values aren’t just words on a webpage or posters in the break room—they guide every decision and interaction, both internally and externally.

Behaviors Are Values in Action

bswift’s values are more than aspirational, feel-good words and abstract ideals. They’re actionable. Living them is how we shape the bswift culture. We’ve translated our values into specific behaviors that team members embody:

• We Care: Show genuine concern for each other, our clients, and in our work.
• We Act with Urgency: Prioritize tasks that require immediate attention.
• We Respect and Trust: Uphold mutual respect and trust in all interactions.
• We Make Informed Decisions: Base choices on data and insights.
• We Participate Fully: Engage actively in all endeavors.

These behaviors are how we show up for each other and our clients every day, shaping a culture that fosters collaboration, innovation and success.

How to Strengthen Your Company Culture

Want to strengthen your company’s culture? Here are a few practical steps to get started:

• Assess Your Culture: Take a close look at your company culture and identify gaps between your values and actions.
• Turn Values into Actions: Define the behaviors that embody your values so your team can live them daily.
• Foster Accountability: Encourage everyone—from leadership to the most junior teammates—to uphold the values through their actions.
• Encourage Collaboration: Foster an environment where teamwork and shared goals thrive.
• Celebrate Success: Recognize when your team embodies your values. Culture isn’t just about work—it’s about creating an environment people love.

Want to build a culture that fuels both employee satisfaction and business results? The experts at the bswift Engagement Agency are ready to talk with you about strategies for embedding strong values that can propel your business forward.

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