Every company has them. Those few words that describe who they are and what they stand for.
But words on a wall don’t build culture. People do. And that only happens when everyone understands those values in the same way and sees them lived across the organisation.
Take Netflix’s well-known principle: “Do what you think is in Netflix’s best interest.” On its own, that line could mean anything. With the right context and examples, it becomes a compass. It gives employees the confidence to act, make decisions, and learn from mistakes. It’s not about slogans. It’s about shared understanding and trust.
Where many organisations get stuck
Most companies launch their values with enthusiasm: a big reveal, glossy slides, maybe even a mug or two. Then daily work takes over. New hires join without hearing the full story. Values fade into the background and lose meaning. That’s not because people don’t care. It’s because values need to be experienced, not announced. They need to live in how people work, communicate, and make decisions every day.
The missing piece: ongoing communication
Culture needs repetition. It’s not a one-off campaign; it’s a rhythm of reminders, recognition, and storytelling. That’s where internal communication makes all the difference. It turns abstract words into real actions through consistent storytelling. That could mean short updates, recurring messages, or creative ways to keep values visible. The goal is to make them part of everyday conversations, not something that appears once a year in a presentation.
Where to start:
- Tell stories of people living the values, not just listing them.
- Explain context: what does “ownership,” “teamwork,” or “innovation” actually look like here?
- Give leaders the tools to keep the conversation going in their own teams.
- Connect recognition and feedback to your values so people see they truly matter.
These moments don’t have to be big campaigns. Small reminders, repeated often, build far more momentum than one loud announcement. Through Octily Creative, we help teams build campaigns that do exactly that. Internal stories, short videos, or playful reminders that make people pause and think. When values show up in small, meaningful ways, they start to shape daily habits.
From communication to experience
Culture doesn’t live only in meetings or internal posts. It lives in the tools your teams use every day. If your people log into Cornerstone daily, that’s the perfect place to show and live your values.
Let culture come to life in Cornerstone
- Welcome Pages can open with your purpose and tone, not just system updates.
- Browser notifications can share stories of people demonstrating a company value in action.
- Learner homes can link new skills or programs to specific values.
- Career or mobility pages can reflect growth, curiosity, and opportunity if those are part of your culture.
These small design choices make a big impact. They turn your Cornerstone platform into a living reflection of your culture. That’s what our Customisation work focuses on: translating culture into experience. The more people see it, the more they live it.
The hidden levers that shape culture
Communication helps culture grow, but it can’t do it alone. Research published in Harvard Business Review shows that lasting change happens when systems support the message, not the other way around. The authors identified five hidden levers that make culture take root.
Hiring and onboarding.
Culture begins at the door.
Performance management.
What gets measured, gets done.
Decision-making.
Decentralised systems create ownership.
Recognition and rewards.
Celebrate behaviours that reflect your values, not just results.
Accountability.
People notice what happens when values are broken more than what’s written on posters.
A roadmap for keeping culture real
Culture isn’t something you roll out once and move on from. It needs attention, alignment, and consistency across everything people see and do. Turning values into behaviour means looking at the systems, recognition, and communication that shape daily work.
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Check your systems.
Make sure everyday processes support your values instead of contradicting them. -
Recognise what reflects your culture.
Celebrate the behaviours you want to see more of. -
Lead by example.
Culture is something people watch, not something they read. -
Use communication as a mirror.
Let your messages reflect what’s real, not what’s aspirational.
Building culture that lasts
Culture doesn’t grow from slogans or perks. It grows from clarity, trust, and consistency, when every message matches what people actually experience. It’s built by people who understand the “why,” feel trusted to act, and see their company’s values in action every day. Strong values become shared habits. Shared habits shape behaviour. And behaviour is what makes culture visible.
It’s not about doing something new every month. It’s about keeping the same ideas visible, simple, and human until they stop feeling like reminders and start feeling like reality.
Set the Course for Stronger Culture
Culture doesn’t happen by chance. It’s shaped by the way people connect, communicate, and make decisions every day. When values are visible and supported through design, storytelling, and the right systems, they guide behaviour and keep everyone moving in the same direction.
If you’re exploring how to bring your culture to life through communication, design, or Cornerstone experiences, we’d love to connect.
Get in touch, send an email, or book a meeting. We would love to explore what we can create together.
