What are values and why do they matter? Values are the guiding principles that shape decisions, behaviors, and interactions. They function like an internal compass, helping to distinguish right from wrong and influencing every aspect of our lives.
A Closer Look at Personal Values
Personal values are the beliefs and principles that clarify what is truly important to us in life —they’re shaped by our families, culture, education, and life experiences. They are the criteria by which we judge our actions and decisions.
Despite their extreme importance in our lives, personal values are not set in stone. As we accumulate new experiences and insights, our priorities may shift, and what matters most to us in one stage of life might take on a different or less significant role later. This evolution is natural and is a sign of personal growth.
For instance, someone like famous pop singer Billie Eilish has been open about her personal values of individualism, social justice, and mental health. These values have guided her to genuine self-expression, innovation in music, and intentional care for herself and the environment.
Diving into Organizational Values
On the flip side, organizational values are the principles that companies publicly commit to upholding. These values serve as the backbone of an organization’s culture and operational ethos.
Take Patagonia, for example—a company celebrated for its staunch commitment to environmental sustainability, ethical business practices, and corporate responsibility. Such values aren’t just buzzwords; they are embedded in the company’s policies, decisions, and overall brand identity.
Yet, despite these noble ideals, not all organizations manage to live up to their public values.
Wells Fargo is an example of how an organization’s stated values can be more aspirational than what is practiced, at times. For example, in 2016, it was reported that Wells Fargo employees had opened millions of accounts to achieve the company’s sales targets. It was later revealed that the practices were also taking place in the mortgage and auto lending divisions. Wells Fargo’s iconic imagery of the stagecoach was intended to convey a feeling of trust, dependability, and a pioneering spirit. After these scandals became public, some refer to the wagon now as carrying the burden of the bank’s reputational and regulatory mistakes.
This distinction between what a company professes and what is practiced makes it even more crucial for individuals to know their personal values so they can assess whether an organization truly aligns with their own beliefs.
The Interplay of Personal and Professional Values
The intersection of personal and organizational values often creates a dynamic space where conflicts, as well as opportunities for growth, arise.
Take the following scenario familiar to many early professionals: You’re working at a fast-growing tech startup known for its "move fast and break things" culture. While the organization encourages and desires rapid innovation and risk-taking, your personal values emphasize careful, ethical decision-making and accountability.
Left unexplored, this potential misalignment of personal and professional values creates a feeling of unease, a strain on your mental well-being, and a decline in your job satisfaction. Feeling like you are constantly compromising your integrity can lead to a gradual erosion of your overall commitment and adherence to your ethical standards.
Giving into the organizational demands or quitting your job might be the obvious choice in this situation. But there are actions you can take in addition to those two extremes. It involves thoughtful self-reflection and strategic adjustment.
Assess what’s being asked of you and explore whether you can reframe these expectations in a way that aligns with your core beliefs. For instance, in a "move fast and break things” culture you might reinterpret the call to rapid action as "make a decision and act on it," a compromise that respects both urgency and ethical decision-making.
You can begin this assessment by having an open conversation with your manager or a trusted colleague to share your concerns and explore potential adjustments in your understanding of your role. At the same time, seek guidance from a mentor or respected peer who can offer fresh perspectives and help you determine whether the misalignment is a temporary hurdle or a deeper, ongoing issue that could affect your well-being. Reflect on your priorities; if the gap remains too wide, consider exploring roles or organizations that better align with your core beliefs. Even if you decide to stay, setting clear boundaries on what you’re willing to compromise is critical for maintaining your integrity while navigating professional demands.
Erika Cheung comes to mind as one having made such a decision to resign her position at Theranos. After trying to resolve her concerns internally, Erika reported her concerns about faulty technology and patient safety to federal regulators. Erika’s revelations triggered investigations and significant media coverage and were crucial in exposing widespread systemic fraud and criminal charges against its founder, Elizabeth Holmes.
Identifying Your Core Values
You may know your core values. If not, I challenge you to take the time for an honest self-assessment and consider what truly matters to you. The following framework can help you decide (or refine) your personal values:
1. Self-Reflection
- Journaling: Regularly write about experiences that made you feel proud, conflicted, or deeply moved. Over time, recurring themes will reveal the values that truly drive you.
- Introspection: Ask yourself probing questions like, “What qualities do I admire in others?” or “When have I felt most fulfilled in my work and personal life?”
2. Structured & Unstructured Assessments
- Values Inventories: There are various online tools and assessments to systematically identify what matters most to you.
- Feedback: Sometimes, insights from trusted colleagues, mentors, or friends can help identify values you may not have consciously acknowledged.
3. Testing Alignment in Professional Settings
- Observation: During job interviews or team meetings, pay attention to whether the actions and decisions of the organization align with its stated values.
- Inquiry: Ask questions about ethical practices, decision-making processes, and how conflicts between personal and organizational values are managed.
By actively engaging in this process, you create a dynamic roadmap for your ethical and professional journey. It can continuously adapt as you gain new experiences and insights.
Be True to Yourself
Knowing your values is the cornerstone of making decisions that are both ethical and authentic. By examining both personal and organizational values—and understanding how they interact—you lay the foundation for a career and life that are true to who you are.
Next month, we’ll take this exploration a step further by delving into Mary Gentile’s groundbreaking work, Giving Voice to Values. We’ll discuss practical strategies for expressing your values in the workplace, even when faced with challenging ethical dilemmas.
Stay tuned for insights on how to not only identify your values but also make them heard in every professional decision you make.
