Proof That Unique Values Improves Performance

I’m not alone in arguing the benefits of developing differentiating values. Turns out that researchers have proven that companies with unique values outperform their industry peers.

In their research paper “Evaluating espoused values: Does articulating values pay off?, authors Karsten Jonsen, Charles Galunic, John Weeks and Tania Braga examined the core values of Fortune 100 companies from 2005 to 2008 and the potential correlation with performance.

While many of these companies shared the same common values, what these researchers found was of great interest to me:

When companies differentiated themselves from their industry peers, it had a positive effect on their firm’s performance.

In other words, companies that develop uncommon values – shaping a unique culture – outperform others in their industry.

To me, this makes good business sense.