Depends on the organization and I suspect (although I really cannot prove this part) industry. Done wrong, they are words on a board, a hollow chant, or pretty

Depends on the organization and I suspect (although I really cannot prove this part) industry. Done wrong, they are words on a board, a hollow chant, or pretty, colorful illusion. On the other extreme, they are the reason some folks in the military didn't flee like sane people and held their ground against some really awful odds. Thankfully, most businesses don't have to deal with the later. I work at a place that cares about its values, because they are the cultural aspirations of the people we serve, and we are one of the organizations that are trying to preserve those values. I dearly want those words to succeed and not be empty platitudes, but the only way that works is if they actually provide guidance and the individual decision maker considers them with each decision. Often they become empty words when folks are "too cool for school" or just have other goals. I've seen leaders who believe in an organization's values and those that don't. For myself, I do like those that follow the values better because they provide one bit of stability that I crave: predictable decisions. Chaos is fun sometimes, but a damn pain when work is concerned. Its interesting to me that often when describing a failed corporation the "getting away from core values" is often cited. They also provide a bit of self examination. Do I actually have a set of values? Would I cut and run if my values conflict with my comfort? Are the values as acted upon by where I work compatible with my own internal values? If not, then you might not find your career fulfilling at that organization.