What are your values as a professional? How well do you live by them? Are they congruent with your personal values? Do you ask yourself these questions:
Is this client I’m about to take on or is this deal I’m about to make align with my values?
Do I lead my team with integrity?
Am I being a true leader or am I just concerned with being perceived as a leader?
Is this call I’m about to make or email I’m sending allow me to live true to my values?
Does my company’s mission or value statement align with my own?
Or are you just faking it until you make it?
Have you ever really asked yourself, "what do I believe in?" or "what is my truth?" Have you ever felt lost when someone asked you what your values were? Knowing your core values is a building block of being a confident and powerful professional. Writing a "Value Statement" is a great tool to find and live your professional standards.
What if someone asked you to write down the values by which you conduct business? Could you come up with them easily? And I'm talking about more than the generic "do the right thing" (because what does that even mean? It's certainly not the same for everyone) and more than "be honest" and "be a good person." What are the rules by which you conduct yourself? How do you make important decisions? I mean, let's get down to the nitty gritty of it. What values do you adhere to, as a professional, that make you the best version of YOU?
You should have your values written down and always on hand as a reminder live true to yourself personally and as a professional, and also to use as a gauge for the different situations that we encounter in the corporate world.
I was taught a very powerful exercise, and it has significantly impacted the way I handle myself as a professional. I went through the exercise of writing my "value statement" - all of the things I believe to the core of my being. These are the beliefs and standards I hold that help me determine which choice to make in any given situation.
I ask myself, “does this company, role, or relationship allow me to live congruently with my values?” “If I make this decision, will I be living true to my professional standards and personal morals?”
For example, my core values are “Faith, Love, Passion and Integrity” I strive to live within these values every day. I also value my freedom above all else. I believe “I am not bound by the limitations of others."
These are just a few examples within my "Value Statement." This has become the best tool I use to determine what to hold onto or let go of in my life – personal and professional. And it will do the same for you.
In fact, I think it is so critical to reinforce my values, that I made it part of my morning ritual. Each day when I have my coffee, I reread my value statement. And throughout the day if needed, I read it as a way to keep myself in check. I keep it on my phone and in my email so I can access it at any time. And, because I am an ever-changing person in constant growth mode, I have updated this multiple times and it continues to be a working document.
I encourage you to take some time to really sit and think this out. What are your values? What's important to you? What are your non-negotiables? What are the standards you live by?
Don't cheat yourself by writing what you think sounds good or what you think you're supposed to believe. If you're truly honest with yourself, you will get uncomfortable with this exercise. That's okay! In fact, that's great!! Because you'll probably realize that you haven't been entirely living up to your own standards. Don’t get down on yourself if that’s the case. This is the perfect opportunity to grow.
Now the tricky part is when you begin to use your value statement to assess the life you’re living. Ask yourself, “is this person I'm doing business with, is this job I'm doing, is this colleague or professional relationship I'm hanging onto allowing me to live true to my values? Am I in alignment?”
Do not get discouraged if you find that most of your life is out of whack with your values. You may even find that your professional standards and personal values are out of sync as well. Most of us are conditioned to do what we're told and to believe what society deems as acceptable. Instead, you can feel empowered because now you've recognized it and now have a solid definition of your values in writing.
This can be your personal diagnostic system, if you will. The more you use it and live by your value statement, the easier it gets. At first, it may be difficult - you may lose relationships, decide that a job change is needed or even pack up and move, or even something as small as make THAT phone call - you know which one I mean.
Things will start to shift as you really check yourself and start living in alignment with your values. When you know your values through and through, you'd be surprised at how much easier making decisions becomes and how much more confident you'll start to feel.
You'll make decisions more quickly and efficiently. You’ll start to build relationships with people who align with your values and you'll find it easier to let go of those who don't. You'll also learn to accept those who may not share your values but that you still respect and have to do business with. Business opportunities that you may have never explored will now be open to you.
I recommend you start by writing several sentences each beginning with "I believe..." and free write until you've really gotten into "the zone". If you get stuck, leave the draft somewhere accessible and come back to it. Your values may come to you at various times so jot them down on a post-it and add it to the document later.
The sooner you get started on writing your value statement, the quicker you can begin living alignment. You will be a well-respected professional living congruently in your professional and personal life.
Defining your values can be a challenge, but with the right support you can get clear for yourself and your business. Servin Creative is happy to guide you through the exercise of developing your value statement. Set up your one-on-one call with Lindsey today!