United By Core Values
So we all strive for the things that don’t actually matter while we whiz by the things that do matter. Well, that’s not entirely true. We are in pursuit of things that do matter to us, but we associate the actual thing as the importance when in fact, it’s the feeling we associate with the thing that gives us fulfillment.
But what ARE the things that matter? We strive for jobs we’ve worked out way up to for years and quit for reasons seemingly unrelated. Or so we think.
People don’t quit their jobs, they quit their bosses.
Really? Do people really quite their bosses? Absolutely. Think of a time when you were furious at something that happened at work… Were you actually mad at your job, or the person who neglected to honor your values? Truth be told, we will do many, many different works in life and though it might not always line up with what we’d hoped for, if even we know that, we stick with it and find satisfaction because, why? Because we have needs and values far greater that are acknowledged, honored, and nurtured. And to meet that need, we will do many different jobs, so long as our values for recognition, learning, appreciation, and contribution are met and honored. Makes sense, right?
The Lifeblood Of Business
Core values that honor acknowledge, and appreciate all team members breathes life into a company. Yet, how many of us actually know our values? Do we even know what a core value is? I went through an exercise with a coach who led the company I consult with through an entire values seeking journey. Truth be told, I had to google “core values” for reference. We did eventually identify the deep rooted truth behind why we all show up and give our hearts and souls to our work.
We learned that our company’s core values are: Excellence, Synergy, Learning, Vision, and Inspiration. We acknowledged that these five drive us forward and when honored and acknowledged for the client and within our team, we were on track.
I’ll point out a company who is paying attention to values and reaping results in a very big way. Zappos. If you’ve ever been on the phone with a Zappos.com employee, you’d swear he was sitting in his own wonderful sunshine oasis.
The core values at Zappos are so strong that from management to employee, they quite literally live their values.
In fact, the employees were likely given the power to co-create those values, which is topic for an entirely different posting.
Discover Your Values
In your daily life, what do you value? A great way to identify this is to think of your life without this value… Without it would you still go to work if this particular value wasn’t honored? Would you still stay married to your husband if your value for partnership wasn’t honored? What about your value for learning? Would you hang around friends with no desire to develop and learn more about life?
Here are a few examples of Core Values to get you thinking:
- Freedom
- Integrity
- Inspiration
- Joy
- Spirituality
- Inspiration
- Mastery
- Abundance
- Authenticity
- Communication
- Friendship
- Excellence
- Adventure/Challenge
Your Top 5 Values
From the list above, or on your own, pick your top 5 values. Define what they mean to you. You’ve now identified the values you live by every single day. Share them with your family, friends, and even your boss. Most of all, understand that behind every upsetting situation or job you quit, is a core value gone unappreciated for too long.
May these newly discovered values lead you to greater clarity, understanding and satisfaction. You have the power.
To Honoring Your Values,
Lacy
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