A company’s core values are more than just statements discussed only during employee onboarding. Instead, they are the principles that define an organization’s identity, guide its strategic decisions, and shape workplace culture. 

To avoid company values simply being artwork on the wall without any actual impact, an organization must continually reinforce the importance of core values in daily operations. While there are many ways to do this, one of the most effective is through employee appreciation. 

Instead of only highlighting and discussing a core value in a monthly meeting, offering direct and simple moments of praise for times employees exhibit behavior that aligns with these principles provides a clear connection between behavior and company values.

In this article, we will examine how employee recognition and the use of eCards present a powerful and practical solution for reinforcing company values and strengthening your workplace culture.

What Are Employee eCards?

Employee eCards are digital greeting cards used by organizations to recognize, celebrate, and appreciate employees for achievements, milestones, and value-driven behavior. Unlike paper cards, employee eCards are sent instantly, can be personalized with messages, images, or videos, and are easily shared across remote and hybrid teams.

Companies commonly use employee eCards for:

• Employee recognition and appreciation
• Reinforcing company values
• Work anniversaries and birthdays
• Peer-to-peer recognition
• Team and company milestones

Why Company Values Are Important to Reinforce

Imagine your company were on a ship sailing the ocean to arrive at a specific destination. Your mission is clear, your destination set, but what keeps everyone rowing in the same direction, especially when the waters get choppy? The answer lies in everyone having the same objective and processes to reach the shore. 

The same is true of company values. If a company wants to steer itself in a specific direction, it needs foundational principles that everyone can use as a compass to guide its efforts. Core values dictate how your organization operates, makes decisions, and interacts with the world. Therefore, to get the whole team rowing in the right direction, the values need to be continually reinforced, and here is why:

Creating a Strong Organizational Identity

Your core values define who you are as a company. They differentiate you from competitors and create a unique identity that employees can connect with, and customers can trust. Regularly highlighting these values reminds everyone what makes your organization special and fosters a sense of pride and belonging among your team. 

When employees feel connected to the company’s mission and values, they are more likely to be engaged and invested in its success.

Guiding Decision-Making

In every business environment, employees at all levels face countless decisions every day. Clearly communicated and consistently reinforced core values provide a framework for making those decisions in alignment with the company’s overall goals and ethical standards. 

They act as a silent guide, helping individuals navigate complex situations and make choices that reflect the organization’s integrity without the need for continual coaching from leadership. 

Boosting Employee Engagement and Motivation

When employees understand and believe in the company’s values, they are more likely to feel a sense of purpose in their work. They see how their contributions fit into the larger organizational picture and are motivated to contribute their best.

Reinforcing values through employee recognition programs and employee recognition initiatives shows employees that their actions, when aligned with these principles, are noticed and valued. This fosters a positive workplace culture where individuals feel appreciated and motivated to go the extra mile.

Building a Positive Company Culture

Core values are the bedrock of your company culture. They shape the behaviors, attitudes, and interactions within the workplace. When values like “collaboration” and “respect” are consistently emphasized and celebrated, it creates a more harmonious and supportive environment where teamwork thrives, and individuals feel valued and respected. 

Conversely, a lack of value reinforcement can lead to a disconnect between stated values and actual behavior, resulting in cynicism and a negative work environment.

Attracting and Retaining Top Talent

As the workplace continues to evolve, candidates are increasingly looking for more than just a paycheck. They want to work for organizations that align with their own values and have a strong, positive culture. Companies that clearly communicate and actively reinforce their core values are more likely to attract top talent who resonate with their mission. 

Furthermore, a values-driven culture contributes to higher employee retention rates as individuals feel a stronger sense of connection and purpose in their work. When employees feel that their values align with the company’s, they are more likely to stay long-term.

Driving Performance and Achieving Goals

Ultimately, a strong understanding and adherence to core values can contribute to improved business performance. When everyone is working towards a common purpose, guided by shared principles, it fosters greater efficiency, collaboration, and innovation.

For example, if “innovation” is a core value often recognized, employees will be encouraged to think creatively and take calculated risks, leading to new ideas and solutions that can drive business growth.

Fostering Consistency and Predictability Across the Organization

When company values are consistently reinforced through avenues like employee appreciation, they create a shared understanding of expected behaviors and standards. This leads to a more predictable and consistent approach to work, whether it’s how employees resolve customer issues, manage team projects, or address internal conflicts. 

Consistency not only streamlines internal operations but also builds greater trust and reliability with external partners and customers. Employees know what’s expected of them and their colleagues, leading to a more efficient workforce that operates with a clear, unified purpose.

How Employee eCards Reinforce Core Company Values

So, how do managers and other leaders reaffirm these values? The most effective method is through recognition. When you recognize an employee, you are not just acknowledging their effort but also highlighting behaviors and actions that are valued within the organization. 

This explicit link between action and value helps employees understand what those often abstract principles mean in their day-to-day work, transforming them from words on a wall into a living guide.

It creates a positive feedback loop: employees see that living the values leads to appreciation, motivation, and a sense of belonging. This continuous reinforcement helps to organically weave the values into the fabric of daily operations and interactions, making them an ingrained part of the company’s DNA rather than just a set of guidelines.

Ultimately, consistent and value-aligned employee recognition builds a stronger, more coherent company culture. It communicates “this is who we are” and “this is how we operate,” guiding new hires and reminding seasoned employees what truly matters.

How E-cards Can Help Reinforce Company Values

While we are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of employee recognition, actually implementing an employee appreciation program can seem like a daunting task. However, with the use of eCards, it is simple. 

An eCard or electronic card is a traditional greeting card, but digital. This digital tool offers a versatile, accessible, and impactful way to focus employee recognition towards behavior that aligns with company values. 

Here are ways companies can use eCards to uphold company values:

• Timely and Immediate Recognition: E-cards can be sent instantly, allowing managers to provide timely recognition for employees who have demonstrated a core value in action. Whether it’s an employee who demonstrated integrity by pointing out a mistake they made or a team that displayed teamwork by collaborating effectively to meet a tight deadline, an eCard can deliver immediate positive reinforcement, making the connection between their actions and the company’s values clear and impactful.

• Personalized and Meaningful Messages: Unlike generic company-wide announcements, eCards can be personalized with specific examples of the employee’s behavior and how it exemplifies the particular core value. This personalized touch provides clear examples of what type of behavior the company is looking for concerning specific values. 

• Value-Based Discussion Boards: Some eCard platforms, like Kudoboard, offer a highly versatile interface. This enables companies to create a themed board or digital card that highlights a specific value. Whether employees discuss what the value looks like or shout out times when their coworkers displayed this value, this can be a great way to define each value.  

• Public or Private Recognition: Digital ecards can be sent privately for a more personal touch or shared publicly on team channels or company-wide platforms. Public recognition can amplify the message and inspire others to embody the same values. This visibility can also foster a culture of appreciation and highlight the importance of living the company values. Or, if the employee prefers privacy, eCards can be easily adapted to one-on-one situations.

• Cost-Effective: Compared to traditional paper cards and physical gifts, eCards are a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable way to show employee appreciation and reinforce values often. They eliminate the costs associated with printing, postage, and delivery, with many offering free eCard options, making them an accessible option for frequent use.

• Easy to Track and Measure: Many digital greeting card platforms offer features that allow managers to track who has sent and received eCards. This data can provide valuable insights into which values are being recognized most frequently and identify areas where further emphasis might be needed. It can also help gauge employee engagement within your recognition program.

• Reinforcing Values Remotely: If your company operates within remote or hybrid workspaces, virtual cards are an invaluable tool for maintaining connection and strengthening company culture and values across geographical boundaries. They provide a simple and effective way for managers to stay connected with their remote teams and ensure that core values remain top of mind, regardless of location.

• Integrating with Other Communication Channels: Ecards are easily integrated with other internal communication channels, such as company newsletters, intranet platforms, and team messaging apps. This multi-channel approach helps to consistently reinforce core values through various touchpoints, increasing their visibility and impact.

In essence, online cards offer a modern, flexible, and impactful way for managers to weave core company values into the fabric of daily employee interactions. By using online cards strategically for employee appreciation, not only are you helping employees feel appreciated, but you are also inspiring them to live by the company’s fundamental principles.

Employee eCard Ideas for Reinforcing Company Values

Now that we’ve discussed the benefits, let’s look at some creative ways managers can leverage eCards to actively reinforce core company values and strengthen the overall company culture. Here are some examples to get you started:

“Values in Action” Recognition

Design eCards specifically tied to each core company value. When an employee demonstrates a particular value in their work, send them the corresponding eCard with a personal message detailing the specific action and its positive impact. On a larger scale, create a themed online card linked to a particular value. Then encourage employees to contribute recognition messages of times their coworkers demonstrated the value.  

Peer-to-Peer Value Recognition

Empower employees to recognize each other for embodying company values by providing them with access to an eCard platform where they can shout out their colleagues’ value-based behavior. This fosters a culture of shared responsibility for upholding values and encourages a more collaborative and appreciative environment. 

“Welcome to the Values” eCards for New Hires

As part of the onboarding process, send new employees an eCard that introduces the company’s core values in an engaging and visually appealing way. Include a brief description of each value, what it means in practice at your organization, and examples of how employees adhere to the values. This helps to set expectations from day one and integrate new hires into the company culture.

Value-Themed Anniversary and Birthday eCards

Utilize employee milestones by highlighting specific company values that the employee excels in on their anniversary card and birthday ecards. This can be accomplished by including these values within the card message.

For example, a fifth anniversary eCard could mention how the employee’s dedication and “Commitment” have been instrumental to the company’s success, or in a birthday card, your message can include how they exemplify integrity and ingenuity. Using company values to genuinely describe the celebrating employee directly tells them exactly how they are contributing to the greater mission.

“Thank You for Living Our Values” eCards After Significant Achievements

When a team or individual achieves a significant milestone, send a thank you ecard that not only acknowledges the accomplishment but also highlights which core values were instrumental in achieving that success. This reinforces the link between the company’s principles and positive outcomes. 

“Nominate a Value Champion” eCards

Create a system where employees can nominate a colleague who consistently exemplifies a specific core value. Send the nominated individuals a special eCard and maybe even a small gift card to recognize their commitment to that value. You might even want to share this on an employee newsletter, with the employee’s permission. This can serve as a powerful form of employee recognition and inspire others.

eCards Featuring Employee Stories

Collect and share stories of employees who have demonstrably lived the company’s core values. Turn these stories into visually engaging group cards using videos and pictures that can be shared internally to inspire and educate others.

These are just a few examples of how managers can tailor the messaging and imagery to align with their specific company values and the context of the recognition. In the end, the key is to be genuine, specific, and timely in your appreciation. Utilizing platforms that offer a variety of e-card templates and customization options can make this process even more effective.

How to Use Kudoboard eCards to Reinforce Company Values

Kudoboard offers a unique and effective way to reinforce core company values by making employee recognition a collaborative and engaging experience. Unlike traditional eCards, Kudoboard allows multiple individuals to contribute messages, photos, and even videos to a single virtual board. 

The collaborative format inherently encourages peer-to-peer appreciation, enabling colleagues to collectively celebrate instances where a core value, like “teamwork” or “respect,” has been visibly demonstrated. By fostering this shared expression of gratitude and linking it directly to specific value-aligned actions, Kudoboard embeds values into the workplace culture.

The platform’s versatile and personalized nature means managers can create dedicated Kudoboards for each core company value, or tailor boards for specific projects and milestones. In the end, Kudoboard excels at making employee appreciation a collective effort where values are not just understood, but actively celebrated and continually reinforced by everyone.

Wrapping Up

Company values serve as the bedrock of organizational identity and success by providing the framework for decision-making and fostering a cohesive, purposeful work environment. However, without continued focus, they can just be words on a wall or an occasional topic at a team meeting. 

For core values to make an impact, companies need to reinforce them continually, and employee recognition through employee eCards and online greeting cards is one of the best ways to accomplish it. By thoughtfully integrating eCards into your recognition strategies, you are not just acknowledging individual contributions; you are actively cultivating a culture where core values are clearly understood, consistently demonstrated, and genuinely celebrated.