|
 If you were on a desert island, stripped of all of your worldly possessions, what would you have left? Your trusty values that's what!
Your values are your deeply held views of what you find most important and form a central part of who you are. They originate at a core level and both consciously and unconsciously act as guides and drivers for your behavior. Whether you know it or not, your values are always with you.
The word value comes from the French verb VALOIR, meaning "to be worth." Identifying your core values - what you find of worth - and then building and aligning your life and work around them, will create a satisfying and meaningful life that will serve the world in the most impactful way.
THE CRITICAL VALUE OF VALUES
VALUES AS YOUR FOUNDATION
Much as values form critical foundational operating principles in a company or organization, so can they act as the foundational blocks of one's personal life. Without first building your house on your foundational values, your life structure will be weak and your house will not continue to stand. Organizations throughout time have found this to be true, as much as they have also found that strongly defined and lived values can help them withstand adversity and amplify their success. This applies to our individual personal lives as well. There is a distinction between the values that we 'profess' to believe in - and our 'values in action', those values which actually guide our behavior. It is not enough to simply state what you believe in - in order to create a strong foundation you must actually live those values and consistently bring them to life.
VALUES AS DRIVERS AND INFLUENCERS
Your values influence and drive the ways in which you live and work (either consciously or unconsciously). The activities you undertake, how you lead, the policies you make, how you act and walk through this world are all driven by values. Values influence your direction, plans and focus. For instance, if equality were one of your top values, how might that influence your work as a lawyer? Or imagine how many in the service professions hold caring or compassion as one of their core values? That is no accident.
VALUES AS GUIDES
Your personal or company values can act as a guide for any operational or strategic discussion. One of my competitive choral group clients was creating a new vocal qualification program to raise musical standards. This was a source of endless discussion that went round in circles with the musical leadership. By reflecting back to the chorus' core value statement of Respect and Support for continuous growth of the individual, the leadership team was able to craft an inclusive, educational and celebratory program rather than a punitive, judgement, "testing" one. The stated group values acted as a touchstone to guide their planning.
VALUES AS COURSE CORRECTORS AND DECISION MAKERS
When we live out of alignment with our values, we feel off-kilter, uneasy, or even unwell. A company out of alignment with their values will not be as successful, nor will their employees be engaged to their full potential. Working for a company or a boss who does not value your values can create an irreconcilable crisis.
Most of us will have, at one time or another, found ourselves in situations that 'just don't feel good' in our hearts and guts. In those times, you were probably were in a situation where your values weren't upheld. That strong message (if you are in tune with it) can act as a catalyst for course correction or making change.
 My coaching client Susanne was stressed out at work and not sleeping nights. As we pulled apart the reasons, it became apparent that she was at odds at a fundamental core value level with the company with whom she worked. She had been directed by her boss to keep certain information (that she felt critical for the staff group), a secret. (And in fact, stretch the truth when her staff questioned her). Susanne's core values of honesty and collaboration could not be expressed in that work environment. Her employment decision became much easier using her values as a touchstone.
VALUES AS SUPPORT
Knowing one is living one's life in alignment with ones deepest core values can provide much needed support when the road gets rocky. Living in full integrity can be the soothing honey that allows one to sleep after disastrous crises of faith.
HOW TO LIVE YOUR CORE VALUES (EXERCISE)
Click here to download your pdf VALUE OF VALUES WORKSHEET
to help you identify your core values and see how they influence your life.
(Or simply grab a piece of paper and work through the steps below.)
STEP ONE: IDENTIFYING YOUR CORE VALUES
1/ Choose your top 10 values (If you have downloaded the worksheet, you can pick from the list provided or add your own). Be sure to focus on the value vs. the result (e.g. / Excellence vs. A Gold Medal)
2/ Now narrow down that value list to 3 - 5 values that are most important to you (some values might naturally be combined - e.g. / caring and compassion)
STEP 2: REFLECTION QUESTIONS
As you look at your top 3- 5 identified values, work along or with a trusted friend or coach and talk turkey. Ask:
1/ How do these values show up - in your life? In your work? In your relationships?
2/ How consistent are you in living with these values as your foundation for all that you do? (Pick a number on a scale of 1-10 for each area of your life)
3/ If your values are less important or less present in certain areas of your life, what could you do to strengthen those values?
4/ When do you /or have you ever compromised your values? If so, how did that feel?
5/ What might change or shift if you allowed your values to drive your behavior on a conscious and consistent basis?
STEP 3: CREATE YOUR CORE VALUE STATEMENTS
From the values you chose, expand them into 3 - 5 CORE VALUE STATEMENTS to create your personal manifesto -that which is important to live your life by. These statements will provide a constant reminder and guidance to help you live your best life.
E.g. / I am honest and transparent in everything I say and do
I approach life with fun, humour and optimism
I strive for excellence always
STEP 4: KEEP YOUR VALUES PRESENT
Hold these value statements close - print them out and read them daily. In an organization or group, read your value statements aloud at the beginning of every meeting and/or print them at the top of your meeting agenda. Reflect and revisit your values on a regular basis and notice how they showed up in your life.
| 
As we head full tilt into a Canadian autumn with the trees turning incredible shades of orange and red, I can't help but feel blessed and privileged. Especially on the West Coast, where we have had an unusually sunny and mild fall. I felt rather smug sitting in my office in my shorts and t-shirt yesterday, online with coaching colleagues in Winnipeg and Chicago who were talking about the need for "blankets" and "heaters". 
