What are your personal core values?
Would you like to be known as a person who makes decisions according to her values? Would you like to be an authentic leader? Would you like to be in charge of creating the future that you desire? If any of these is your desire, defining your personal core values is essential to developing your leadership qualities.
Authentic leaders know themselves: They define their own core values, they understand the behaviors that embody their values and they recognize the emotional triggers that may sidetrack them from living in integrity. Taking stock of your tendencies and highest aspirations may seem like busy-work for a harried worker or executive; to the contrary, it is foundational inner work for the leader who wishes to lead with integrity. When your core values are the bedrock of your decision-making, you live in alignment with your ideals and create a future of your own design.
Effective leaders need to understand their personal core values in order to act with integrity, not react according to past experiences or emotional triggers. Value-based decision-making allows leaders to shape their own destiny, one choice at a time. If you react, you reinforce previous behaviors and continue the patterns of the past. However, if you act according to your values, you choose a future that is aligned to your highest ideals.
How does a leader define his core values? Remember first that core values are the 3-5 most important, encompassing values that you live by. A good way to start, however, is by identifying your top ten values, then distilling those to a handful that are easy to remember.
Although the process is straightforward, it may take some time to work it to your satisfaction. Let these concepts percolate through your mind over several days, then carve out some quiet time to write down your conclusions.
Here’s how to define your core values.
- Think of past decisions that were successful AND made you feel good about yourself. Using these as an indicator, identify the values that drove those decisions. Then add values to include the values that you wish to embody in the future. Create a list of about ten values. You might choose from this list or create your own: accountability, work/life balance, compassion, creativity, efficiency, excellence, fairness, family, financial gain, future generations, fun, honesty, integrity, making a difference, personal growth and fulfillment, power, respect, success, wisdom.
- Now, create a matrix that lists your top ten values, a description of what it means to you and an example of actions you take to live by that value. Here is an excerpt from my list of top ten values:
Value: What this means to me: Example actions I take to live this value: Integrity Doing what I say I will do, according to my code of honor I refund a client if they accidentally overpay me. Compassion Acting with love and the best interests of the people involved; creating a win-win situation. I express my desires and vision in a way that respects the desires of the other person. - Once you have your top ten values, step back and look at them through the following filters:
- Group similar values together. Find a word or phrase that describes the grouped values.
- Prioritize the remaining values by asking yourself these two important question: 1) Which of these are the most important to me? 2) What values do I want to be remembered for at the end of my life?
- Ensure that the top 3-5 include values that relate to your own personal development, to serving your family/customers and to contributing to society at large. This helps you create well-rounded values and a legacy.
- Lastly, make sure that the values you choose are achievable for you. It helps no one if you are not truly committed and able to live your values.
- Post your list of Core Values in a prominent place, perhaps near your desk or computer. Live with them for a few days to make sure they resonate with you. When satisfied, re-post the Core Values again so you can refer to them in future decision-making and as a daily reminder.
The best leaders know themselves. They take the time to inspect their values, their motives and they understand their tendencies. Create your own Core Values and use them as a compass on your journey to living, and leading, in wholeness.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:18 am
I really like this post because you get people to think more deeply about how our values interact with our actions. And to me that is where the power of values resides. It’s not just about making a list of nice sounding concepts.
One of my favorite examples of the power of leadership values expressed in behavior comes from the life of Mahatma Gandhi. One of his core values was Truth. Gandhi successfully led the Indian people to freedom, not by merely supporting the Indian cause and attacking the British. He did it by unwavering adherence to the power of Truth.
When he thought the British were correct on certain points he said so fearlessly. When he thought the British policies were violating fundamental truths of human dignity he also responded fearlessly.
Gandhi’s dedication to truth was powerful. With it he effectively ended the British colonial rule in India. When we put our values into action they can powerfully shape and heal our lives.