During a coaching session with a client about their aspirations, I discovered there was some discontent in their current role and uncertainty in what lays ahead for their next career move.
I began asking questions like “What do you need to be excited, happy and fulfilled at work?” We then talked about their top values and whether they were living according to them or if there was a gap between what they valued and how they were showing up.
Often, I discover there is something that isn’t serving my client well. With the fast pace of life and work, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. This discussion was an opportunity for my client to reassess and prioritize their values and identify what is most important to them.
Clear values help us decide how to spend our time and energy, guide our career choices, and evaluate essential relationships. In uncertain times or when at a crossroads in your career, values can help us determine our aspirations and what is most rewarding. When juggling priorities, they can help signal where to focus. Values define what you desire to achieve, personally and professionally.
It’s important to reassess values over time since they may change as we progress through life and work. What was important earlier in our careers may not be as important now. This was the case with my client whose recent life changes had altered their values, something they hadn’t realized up to this point.
Similarly to how I have my clients perform a Values Sort, you too can engage in this same exercise by listing your top ten values in order of priority.
Examples of values include integrity, creativity, stability, health and wealth.
Once you complete your ranking, some questions to consider include…
- How did I arrive at my choices?
- Why are these values important to me?
- How have my values changed over time?
The answers to these questions should offer insight into whether you are living your values or if it is time to reassess where to allocate your time and energy. Additionally, this reflection can help determine whether you are happy, fulfilled and positioned to flourish.
Values matter! They guide our choices and help us stay on the path that is most important to achieve our goals.