Values

Hi,

Values are principles held by an individual or group that influence choices and actions. In other words, our values influence how we behave, the choices we make, and what think certain things in life are worth. For example, a person may decide to save their money for a down payment on a home, rather than spend what money they do have on a new car. We could say that person thinks a home is “worth” the continued sacrifice of driving an old clunker while continuing to save and worth skipping the immediate gratification of owning a new car. Perhaps the value behind their choice is, “family,” or “thrift,” or “security,” or something similar.

There are different kinds of values. Some values we can call life values and others can be called business values. We can also prioritize our values, that is, some are more important to us than others—and we sometimes have to make tradeoffs in our choices. For example, I value security but I place an even higher value on autonomy. Therefore, from time-to-time I might forgo a job opportunity if I don’t think I will have enough say in how the job will be performed.

When we ask someone we know well, “What are your values?” we can get some surprising answers because what people often think of as values, are actually ideals. Ideals are expressions of perfection that exist only in concept, not in reality. That is why sometimes people we know who “Say one thing and do another” act that way because they hold an ideal, or think they will be viewed favorably for holding it, but make decisions and choices based on what they really value.

That is why values must be discovered, not simply stated. By thinking of our values as a discovery process we start to think deeply about why we act the way we do. By looking at our choices, our actions, and our behavior we can work backwards to discover the values that like beneath. Starting from the other way around is problematic. For example, an employee may say that s/he values “teamwork,” but as a day-to-day matter of fact that employee isn’t cooperative with others and constantly looks to maximize his or her own benefit. By working backward from the behavior we might discover that his/her true value is “independence,” or “power,” or “security.” Not that any one value is inherently good or bad, it’s just that it helps to be clear and accurate with ourselves and others about our values.

Values typically are formed in our early years but new values can be acquired. The way we do that is choosing ideals—and then pursuing those ideals until our choices, actions, and behaviors signal that we have incorporated a new value in our way of being in the world.

Jim Lucas
Séva Education
gojimlucas@sevastyle.com
(925) 980-7871


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