GUEST POST: The Encouraging Mentor - #6 The Values Review

The Values Review

Our values may be defined as beliefs that guide our behavior or motivate us to act. As individuals, we all have varying values and belief systems. We come from differing backgrounds and places. This gives us a rich and beautiful diversity. But how do we incorporate values into our everyday work? How do we ensure our core values are the fundamental beliefs that guide behavior and action? Here’s an exercise that can help.

Grab a piece of paper. Look at the table below, and write down the words that you feel are important. Jot down as many as you want. You may have 10 or 15. There’s no limit.

Now, look over your words. Narrow these down to your top 10. Underline those but do not rank them. Now, let’s begin to focus on items that are most important to you. Narrow the underlined list down to your top five. Circle these.

Lastly, rank the circled items in order from 1 (most important) to 5 (less important). Then, consider these questions about your top values:

1. Why do we need to know, name, and talk about our core values?
2. Who or what influenced your top values? (Consider family, society, geography, events.)
3. Have your top values changed over your lifetime? Will they? What might cause that?

Questions to consider about other people and their values: (Jot a few ideas for each.)

1. What happens when you need to work with someone whose values differ from yours?
2. Have you ever suppressed or temporarily ignored your values to fit in? (Or get a job? Etc.)
3. Can you respect someone who holds a fundamentally opposite value from you? How might you do that?

Here’s a bonus homework challenge. Look around for something that represents what is important to you. Perhaps it is something in nature, a quote, a sign, a person, or a pattern or design. Reflect on how that represents one of your core values this week. Discuss that with a friend or mentor.

Dr. Brian Raison