Values Identification Exercise
The following is a core values exercise I have used for many years with clients and students. There are many similar tools available online, but what I like about this approach is the final step, which calls for personal definitions and stories. These values hold different meanings for different people. The more personal you make them, the more relevance they will have to how you live and lead.
Why values matter:
Clarifying your values is a powerful step toward a more engaging, productive and satisfying life, both in and out of the workplace. A firm values framework gives you a clearer sense of self-identity (you know who you are), greater self-assurance (you know where you stand), and clearer self-direction (you know what you want).
Your most important values are your strongest motivators: your greatest source of joy when satisfied, and your greatest sense of frustration and disappointment when not satisfied.
Directions:
All of the values listed here are worthwhile. Your job is to find the ones that are most valuable to you.
First, quickly review the list, checking all the values that stand out as important to you at first glance.
Second, review the list again, slowly this time, and thoughtfully consider which of those you previously checked matter more than the others. You should have between five and ten checked twice at this point.
Finally, consider which values you would not give up under any circumstances, determining your top three.
One last and very important step: please write your top three values in order of importance, define them in your own terms, and then recall a story that helps to explain the importance of this value in your life. (If you can’t recall a recent, specific story about each of these values “in action,” it may be that you need to reconsider your top three.)
