Are Your Values in Conflict with Your Work?

Are you feeling unfulfilled or even unhappy at work? You are likely facing a conflict of values. 

A client of mine was facing a conflict recently. They climb mountains, strive for excellence and thrive on completing long-term projects. One of these projects will wrap up in the next two months. They also value integrity, honesty, and equity in the workplace, and were asked to “create” a negative performance review in advance of laying off an employee on disability leave. They were caught between the value of delivering an important project on time and resigning in the face of unethical practices. 

If you’re feeling stuck or torn between two alternatives, it helps to identify what’s important to you and reframe your assumptions. In my client’s case, once they saw that resigning before the project is complete is not “being a quitter” when the alternative is doing something unethical.

Here are some exercises you can do to discover your values:

1. Reflect on your past experiences. Think about times in your life when you felt really good about yourself and your choices. What were you doing? Who were you with? What were the values that were important to you in those moments?
2. Consider your current goals and dreams. What do you want to achieve in life? What are you passionate about? Your goals and objectives can give you clues about your values.
3. Pay attention to your actions. What do you do with your time and energy? How do you spend your money? Your actions can often be a reflection of your values.
4. Talk to people you trust. Ask them what they think your values are. They may be able to see things about you that you don’t see yourself.
5. Use a values assessment tool. There are many different values assessment tools available online. These tools can help you to identify your values.

Here are some additional tips for discovering your values:

• Be honest with yourself. It’s important to be honest about what you really value, even if it’s not what you think you should.
• Be open to change. Your values may change over time, so it’s important to be open to new ideas and experiences.
• Be patient. It may take some time to discover your values. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find them right away.

By following these tips, you can discover your values and live a more fulfilling life.

Here are some examples:

• Honesty: Being honest and truthful in all your dealings with others.
• Integrity: Acting with moral uprightness and consistency.
• Courage: Standing up for what you believe in, even when it’s difficult.
• Kindness: Treating others with compassion and empathy.
• Love: Having deep affection and care for others.
• Family: Putting your family first and foremost in your life.
• Friendship: Valuing close relationships with others.
• Learning: Always seeking out new knowledge and experiences.
• Creativity: Expressing yourself through art, music, or writing.
• Zest: Approaching life with enthusiasm and energy.

If you’d like to explore how to bring your values into your work and career, check out this free training.