Our values define what we are and what we aim to be. They reflect the way we should operate both internally and externally. And they’re summed up in the line ‘Tomorrow’s Answers Today’.
We believe in:
These values give us standards to measure ourselves by, particularly in our dealings with customers, suppliers, our own people and the wider world. The values have real meaning for us and the way we behave.
Here’s what each of them means in practice:
Focusing on our customers’ future first
We can guarantee our future only by giving our customers products and services that improve their future. So this value comes first. It’s our priority and the reason why we exist.
We’ve always met the needs of our customers – that’s why we’ve grown. But now we make it very clear: it’s the basis of everything we do.
Embracing entrepreneurial thinking
New thinking and new ideas are everything – if we’re to compete. So we need an environment and a mindset that encourages new ideas from individuals and teams.
“Yes”, not “Yes, but...”
“Why not?” not “Why?”
We might fail occasionally, but we’ll get great ideas to market more quickly as a result. And we’ll keep more people with truly original ideas within the company.
Developing the talents of our people
Our business will grow if our people grow too. So we’re committed to professional and personal development. We’ll do all we can to develop existing talents, nurture new skills and progress within AkzoNobel. Through this commitment, we’ll attract and retain people of the highest quality to develop the business.
The courage and curiosity to question
AkzoNobel isn’t one of those companies with a set way of doing things. We dislike rigid hierarchies and we want our people to take a broad, interested view of the world. We like them to ask questions. “Is there a better way?” There generally is a better way, if we challenge ourselves and our customers to look at things differently. It’s the way we improve.
Integrity and responsibility in our actions
Business needs to work within a framework. Our employees have to be aware of rules and regulations that they must comply with, in whatever part of the world they work. But integrity and responsibility go deeper than that. They’re about doing things in the right way, as individuals and as a company.
Ethical and responsible behavior matters to our business. If we do the right things, people will know we’re a company that can be trusted. They’ll then be more likely to work with us and invest in us – which is good for our long-term growth.