Valuing Values

“Values are like fingerprints. Nobody’s are the same, but you leave ‘em all over everything you do”.

-Elvis Presley

I have never worked with a person or organization that didn’t have values. Some of these values are clearer than others, but all people and organizations have them. Yet, something I have come to realize is that the rank-order of values matters just as much, if not more, than the values themselves.
 
Perhaps, nowhere are values most apparent than in politics. For example, you may have voted for Trump because you felt he would keep you safe. Perhaps, you got behind his biggest campaign promise: “We are going to build a wall.”  Conversely, perhaps you voted for Barack Obama because of his campaign promise that healthcare was “not a privilege, but a right.” Trump spoke to those who valued security as their primary value, while Obama spoke to those who valued humanity as their primary value. It doesn’t mean that those who value security don’t also value humanity, and those that value humanity don’t value security, it’s just that the value is lower on their list, so therefore it doesn’t drive their decision making.
 
The order of our values drives our behavior. It's key to our identity; values determine who you are. That's why it's essential to get clarity on your values while remaining open to adjusting the order if they don’t align with your aspirations.
 
So, what’s the order of your values? Pick a top 5. How are those values similar or different between your personal and professional life? They don't have to be the same.
 
When we clarify our values, we create a better understanding of who we are and why we act the way we do. Evaluate and then value your values.