Aligning Your Values to Align With Yourself
Values represent who we are and signal our individuality, traits, and priorities. They are the most fulfilling form of expressing and relating to the world around us, a way for us to embody our true selves and enable us to feel like we’re on solid ground, fulfilled and present in our lives.
As we continue to live in the era of the great resignation, it’s clear the underlying driver for the worker displacement is the pandemic, which has become a catalyst for elevating personal purpose and values.
According to a joint survey by Blue Beyond Consulting and Future Workplace, 8 in 10 survey respondents say it's important that their company's values align with their own — but only 57% of knowledge workers say they actually do align. But of that group, 52% are likely to quit their job because of it. We’re seeing people quitting jobs in droves but what they're really doing is aspiring to new ways of life.
For their incredible importance, values are latent for many people when they should be something you can readily and easily express. Why? Because when we identify our values with specific language, we bring awareness to one of our most important thinking systems, giving us a powerful tool to navigate challenges and lean into opportunities with clarity and confidence. Let’s dive into an exercise to help you identify your values and think through questions to help you align them with your life.
Part 1: Values Inventory
Review this list of common values and select 6–8 to speak to you.
1. Flexibility
2. Resilience
3. Passion
4. Respect
5.Empathy
6. Integrity
7. Creativity
8. Positivity
9. Dependability
10. Compassion
11. Community
12. Gratitude
13. Purpose
14. Understanding
15. Trust
16. Honesty
17.Authenticity
18. Service
19. Independence
20. Kindness
Part 2: Values alignment in the workplace
Reflect on the leaders in your company. What kinds of values do they portray? How are decisions made, and communicated in your company and what do they signal about the organization’s values? Consider if they align with your personal values or if there’s a discrepancy that needs addressing.
Part 3: Values alignment in your personal life
Beyond work, how do your values manifest in your everyday life? Think back to the best experiences in your life, what made them so special. Were there aspects or themes to them represented in the list above? Another way to reflect on this is by recalling an experience where you felt joy, happiness, pride, etc. Once you have these answers, decide if there are places in your life where you might not be experiencing a sense of fulfillment to identify opportunities for living more authentically in accordance with your values.
If you need guidance identifying your values or thinking through how they apply to your life, I’m here to help. Meaningful growth starts with self-knowledge, and often, an objective third-party perspective can make all the difference in addressing any blind spots and opportunities for growth. The journey can be such a rewarding one, and I’d be honored to accompany you on yours.