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Get Started With Your Values

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The EvalYOUation

When I work with clients on their brand foundation one of the key exercises is what I call “appointing the two VP’s of your life” 

The first VP is Vision and Purpose and the second Values and Passions. If anyone is ever stuck with where they want to be heading or really connecting with who they truly are I recommend they work on those 2nd VP’s.

Identifying and understanding your values can have a huge effect on 

Below is the Values exercise – what I call the EvalYOUation.

EvalYOUation

Purpose of the Values Exercise

Your values are the operating principles that form the base of your belief system.  You take your values with you wherever you go.  Knowing your values is crucial for making decisions in business and life because it helps you recognize whether you and a particular opportunity are a good match.  To better understand your values, take note when something occurs that bothers you and ask yourself why it makes you upset.  Chances are one of your values is being violated.

Part One:  Identify your Values

Review the list of values below and complete the following exercise:

  • Step One:  As you read through the list do the following:
    • Circle the words that you feel really “fit” you
    • Draw a line through words that really don’t fit you
    • Feel free to add values that you don’t see on the list
  • Step Two:  Take a few moments to look at the words you circled as a “fit” for you, and put an asterisk or star by the 10-15 that you feel most closely fit your values.
  • Step Three:  From your list of 10-15 words, select the top 5 words that you feel most closely articulate your values. 
  • Step Four:  Record these top 5 values in order of priority with “1” being your most important.

Part Two:   Aligning your Values

  • Step One:  Align your top values.
  • Step Two:  Making a commitment to “realign” one of your top values.

Identifying your Values

Accessibility

Efficiency

Optimism

Accomplishment

Elegance

Originality

Accountability

Empathy

Passion

Accuracy

Endurance

Peace

Adaptability

Enthusiasm

Perfection

Adventure

Excellence

Perseverance

Affection

Experience

Persuasiveness

Affluence

Expertise

Power

Altruism

Fairness

Precision

Ambition

Faith

Professionalism

Assertiveness

Fame

Prosperity

Balance

Family

Punctuality

Belonging

Fidelity

Realism

Bravery

Fitness

Recognition

Calmness

Flexibility

Relaxation

Celebrity

Frugality

Reliability

Challenge

Fun

Resourcefulness

Charity

Generosity

Respect

Clarity

Grace

Security

Cleverness

Gratitude

Self-control

Comfort

Growth

Sensitivity

Commitment

Harmony

Significance

Compassion

Health

Sincerity

Completion

Honesty

Speed

Conformity

Honour

Spirituality

Contentment

Humour

Spontaneity

Control

Imagination

Stability

Conviction

Impact

Strength

Cooperation

Independence

Structure

Courage

Integrity

Success

Creativity

Intelligence

Support

Curiosity

Justice

Sympathy

Dependability

Kindness

Teamwork

Determination

Knowledge

Understanding

Devotion

Leadership

Virtue

Dignity

Learning

Vision

Directness

Love

Wealth

Discipline

Loyalty

Winning

Diversity

Mindfulness

Wisdom

Education

Modesty

Zeal

   

_______________

   

_______________

     

 

Part I.  In the space below, write your 5 top values – in order of priority with “1” being your most important value:

 

1. ____________________________

2. ____________________________

3. ____________________________

4. ____________________________

5. ____________________________

 

Reflect on your personal definition of what each of these values means to you.

 

1. ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

5. _______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Part II-A. – Value Alignment

In the space below, write your 5 top values from Part I.  Now consider how much your life is currently aligned with each value.  In the column next to each value – circle the corresponding number which bests describes how aligned that value is with your current life choices.    “1” would indicate a low alignment and a “10” would indicate very high alignment.

For example, if one of your values is “fitness” and you consistently work-out 5 days a week you might give yourself a “9”.  If one of your values is “fitness” and you rarely get a workout in more than once a week you might give yourself a “2.”

Top 5 Values Current life alignment with Value1=low alignment       10=high alignment
 1.   1    2     3     4     5    6    7    8    9   10 
 2.   1    2     3     4     5    6    7    8    9   10
 3.   1    2     3     4     5    6    7    8    9   10
 4.   1    2     3     4     5    6    7    8    9   10
 5.   1    2     3     4     5    6    7    8    9   10

 

Part II – B.  Value Realignment

Choose one of the values above (perhaps that with the lowest score) and make a commitment to yourself on how you can bring that value back into alignment as a priority in your life in the next 3 months.

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Values Exercise

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Values Exercise – 3 steps to truly living your brand

Why we should consider our values.
Your values are effectively your moral compass, they guide and direct you in all your decisions – good and bad, they are with you all the time and are the basis of your belief system.

Being clear about what your values are and the level of their importance to you are critical when you are making major decisions – be they in relation to your career, life or the people around you.

They are a critical part of the foundation for your personal brand and quite often are a great starting point for defining the other key components of that foundation – namely Vision, Purpose and Passions.

Think of Oprah or the Dalai Lama – these are strong examples of people who live their values every day and much if not all of what they do is driven by their core values.

Where your values show up
If this is not something that you have really consciously considered before, just start off by observing and listening out for times when something happens that concerns or upsets you and ask yourself why that would be the case. It’s very likely that it is one of your core values that are being compromised.

Identifying your values
When you are ready to take things a little further you can step in to the values identification exercise, which is the first part of a three step process.

Step 1
At this page link VALUES LIST there is a page of words that could be considered values. Print that page or keep the separate page browser open and start to exclude the words that have no meaning for you or do not resonate. At the same time circle or underline the words that do mean something to you, they stir an emotion or thought – which could be good or bad. If there are words that you cannot see that mean something to you add them in go to the VALUES LIST

Try to get that list down to a manageable number of 10 words and then pick the top 3 words that you really feel connection to, that you feel truly speak to who you are.

Step 2
Now take some time to think more deeply about those values and what they mean to you. Try and explain that and capture it in a sentence that really defines that value for you. Even though the word is the same as someone elses they might well have a very different meaning and that is okay.

Step 3
Take a look again at your top 3 and their definitions and now try to score on a scale of 1 – 7 how that value is turning up in your life right now.  Are you really living that value, expressing it in all you do – if so score yourself a 7, if it is never showing up score yourself a 1. Likelihood for many of us it’s somewhere in between.

Coaching Fieldwork
Take a look at a value that you have scored low, maybe the lowest. Now for the next 90 days make a commitment to review at the start and end of each day that value. At the start of the day decide on an action that is going to move that score up and make that value more in your life. At the end of the day review your actions and see if you achieved what you set out to do.

Not only will you feel more connected in what you do, but you will feel more authentic, being who you are and taking positive steps to live that every day – exuding and communicating your brand.