Activity Set: Values Assessments
Values Assessments: Quick Overview (Note: There are no online assessments for these activities; read the information below for more detailed instructions and information to complete the activities.)
Part 1: Personal Core Values
- Identification of what matters most in your life.
- Lifework Activity: Identify your Top 5 (Rank-Ordered) Personal Core Values.
Part 2: Desired Work Values
- Identification of what matters most in your work.
- Lifework Activity: Identify your Top 5 Desired Work Values.
Part 3: Lifestyle Values
- Identification of what matters most for your lifestyle.
- Lifework Activity: Identify your Top 5 to 7 Lifestyle Values.
The results from these activities will be part of your Character Resume.
Need Example of results? Click on Bill’s Character Resume to see his Strengths Assessment results: character resume-bill johnson example, 6-15-22.
Introduction to Values
Your values are the things that are most important to you and form the foundation of your life. They are the principles, standards, and qualities you consider worthwhile or desirable. Values guide your actions, decisions, and choices for the better on a daily basis. If you notice that something isn’t quite right in your life, a lot of times it’s due to a conflict in your values. Your values influence your feelings, your behaviors, and your personal identity. It’s important to know and understand your values in order to live a more fulfilling life! Note: As you identify your values for this set of activities, make sure that you are choosing the most important values in your life RIGHT NOW, not things that you think are important to others or the values you’d like to have in the future.
Here’s five reasons why identifying your values matter:
- Defining your values gives you clarity on who you are and what you stand for.
- Defining your values gives you purpose.
- Defining your values prevents you from making bad choices – and helps you make better decisions.
- Defining your values gives you confidence and motivation.
- Defining your values makes your life simpler.
I would argue that identifying your values are the MOST IMPORTANT activities you will do in this Challenge. Knowing your values WILL have the most impact on your life – now and in the future.
There are three parts to the Values Assessments you’ll complete this week: (1) Personal Core Values, (2) Desired Work Values, and (3) Lifestyle Values. All three are important Assessments as you decide what’s important today and in the future.
Before you engage in the Values Assessments, check out this video that is a heart-warming story that address values in action. As you watch the video, you’ll witness and hear the values most important in this relationships (warning: you may want to get tissues):
- Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: Team Hoyt’s Inspirational Story – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvtpGCqU2Tg
I hope you enjoyed the video…brings a tear to my eyes EVER TIME!
If you have free time and read a great article on why values matter, what they truly mean, and how you can change your values, read this article by Mark Manson (Warning: Lots of profanity, but a great message):
- “Personal Values: How to Know Who You Really Are” – https://markmanson.net/personal-values
It is BY FAR the best article I found on understanding why your values are important!
Enjoy the activities!
P.S. Feel free to share any thoughts/comments about these activities in the comments box below.
Part 1: Personal Core Values Assessment
What follows is a list of 36 Personal Core Values (list is similar to the Value Tags Activity); your goal is to identify your Top FIVE (5) most important Personal Core Values, the Top 5 Values you can’t live without. For this activity, not only will you identify your Top Five (5) Personal Core Values, but you’ll also need to rank order you Top 5 list, where #1 is your most important value – the ONE value you cannot live without, #2 is your second most important values, and so on, until you’ve rank ordered each of your Top 5 values.
Here’s the list:
- Accomplishment/Achievement – To be involved in and succeed in undertakings that are personally significant, whether or not they bring recognition from others. To complete something successfully, especially by special effort, superior ability, perseverance, or great courage. To participate in activities that bring fulfillment.
- Accountability/Responsibility – To take responsibility for my actions and the outcomes of those actions. To hold myself responsible for my actions, conduct, and decisions. To be answerable for something within my power, control, or management. To be seen as dependable, reliable, and conscientious.
- Advancement/Promotion – To consistently move ahead to new and progressive opportunities. To aspire to higher levels of excellence in one’s professional life. To continue to move forward and improve current rank and/or standing. To have visible success and status in the workplace.
- Authority/Power/Control – To have the power to approve or disapprove proposed courses of action. To make assignments and control allocation of people and resources. To have great influence or control over others. To be given the authorization to enforce, command, determine, or judge. To be in charge.
- Autonomy/Independence – To have freedom of will, thought, and/or action. To be self-reliant and have freedom from the influence, guidance, or control of others. To be self-directed and self-sufficient. To be free from the control, influence, support, and aid of others. To choose own projects, set own pace, schedule, and work with minimal supervision.
- Balance/Stability – To have continuance in life with minimal change. To maintain a life based on reliable, dependable, and predictable situations. To live in a steady, secure, unchanging environment. To have mental steadiness, emotional stability, calm behavior, and use sound judgment.
- Challenge/Risk – To be involved in stimulating and demanding tasks and projects. To be engaged in difficult or complex activities. To face unknown or dangerous experiences. Participating in situations where there is a possibility of damage or loss.
- Competence – To possess the skills, knowledge, and aptitude to effectively perform a task. To execute work with accuracy to achieve results. To demonstrate proficiency and above average effectiveness. To be seen as well qualified and having superior ability.
- Competition – To engage in activities where results are measured frequently and compared with others. A test of skill or ability, usually in comparison with one’s self or others. A contest for some prize, honor, or advantage. To have a strong desire to win and be successful.
- Creativity/Self-Expression – To develop new and innovative ideas. To generate new and better ways of doing tasks. To make, invent, or produce imaginative or original thoughts or things. To use your imagination to find new ways to do or say something. To be able to personalize ideas, emotions, or feelings. To convey or represent one’s own personality, feelings, or ideas.
- Enjoyment/Happiness – To take pleasure in life – both work and personal. To live life to the fullest. To have fun. To experience pleasure, amusement, joy, or cheerfulness in every aspect of life. To incorporate things that brings one pleasure in life.
- Entrepreneurship/Innovation – To organize, manage, or start a business or enterprise, usually with considerable initiative and risk. To create or establish an object, item, or idea. To start or introduce something new and different.
- Excellence – To achieve the highest attainable standard in all aspects of my life. To seek the highest level of quality in all tasks and projects. To possess outstanding quality or superiority merit.
- Expertise – To become a known and respected authority in a particular field. Attain mastery/expertise something specific. To have a high degree of knowledge/skill in a certain subject. To be recognized as an expert in something.
- Fairness/Equality/Diversity – To have the same capability, quantity, effect, value, or status as others. To honor and respect a variety of cultures and lifestyles. To appreciate those things that are different. To welcome others as being the same. To have an equal chance in all things.
- Family – To live with and commit to at least one significant other. To focus on the relationships, time spent with, and attention given to children, spouse, significant other, parents, siblings, and/or relatives.
- Fitness/Health – To be involved in activities that relies on my physical and mental conditioning. To be physically and mentally fit. To be of sound mind, body, and spirit. To be in good health and physical conditioning due to exercise and proper nutrition. To be involved in work that requires substantial physical activity.
- Friendship – To have close, positive, personal relationships with others. To have frequent and caring relationships with non-related people close to you. To develop camaraderie and good-will with others. The cooperative and supportive relationship with two or more people.
- Harmony – To have a feeling of inner calm, peace, and tranquility. To feel or show happiness, contentment, or well-being. To live a life that’s consistent, pleasing, and tranquil. To desire to be at peace with oneself.
- Honesty/Trust – To have faith, belief, and reliance in the character, integrity, and sincerity in another person. To be a person of honor, truthfulness, and fairness. To rely on a person or thing in confidence.
- Integrity – To live and work in agreement with personal moral and ethical standards. To be straightforward and direct with others. To live by and stand up for personal beliefs. To do what you say you’re going to do. To be a person of honor and sincerity. To consistently live by and demonstrate your values.
- Knowledge/Learning/Education – To engage in the pursuit of acquiring information. To be involved in activities that requires thought and reasoning. To study or investigate facts, truths, or principles. To gain familiarity, awareness, or understanding through experience or study.
- Leadership – To motivate and energize other people. To feel responsible for identifying and accomplishing needed group tasks. To guide and direct others. To manage, direct, or supervise the activities of others. To influence the opinions or decisions of others. To personally convince others to take certain actions.
- Leisure – To pursue non-work-related activities. To participate in hobbies, crafts, or recreational activities. To have time and freedom to do things that brings pleasure. To live a life of unhurried ease.
- Loyalty – To be committed to the goals of people who share my beliefs, values and ethical principles. To be faithful and committed to a person. To be trusted to follow an ideal, a custom, a cause, or a duty. Being reliable to commitments and obligations. To follow a leader or a cause with strong devotion.
- Nature/Environment – To care for and appreciate the environment. To respect and values the outdoors. To respect the social and cultural values that shapes the life of a person. To have concerns for the earth and its climate. To be involved in activities or work that’s outdoors – or for the betterment of the outdoors.
- Personal Development/Growth – To do challenging work that will help one grow and allow the utilization of one’s best talents and skills. To develop capabilities and one’s potential to make one more aware of his or her inner feelings or thoughts. To continually search for opportunities to learn about self and about life.
- Recognition/Fame/Prestige – To be seen by others as extremely successful. To be given special notice or attention. To be acknowledged for achievement and service. To obtain recognition and status in one’s chosen field. To have great visibility, a great reputation, and to be recognized and renowned. To seek applause from others.
- Religion – To have a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices from a particular organization. To believe in and follow something devotedly. To practice ritual observances of faith.
- Respect – To be treated with admiration, thoughtfulness, and fairness. To be valued with esteem or honor. To be a person viewed as having certain rights, privileges, proper acceptance, or courtesy. To be a person to show consideration and appreciation for others. To have pride in self and feel worthy.
- Safety/Security – To be free of worry, fear and anxiety. To have minimal concerns about danger or risk. To have predictability in one’s life. To have income and benefits that are predictable and satisfactory. To have the assurance of the fulfillment of an obligation. To have freedom from financial worry.
- Service/Helping Others – To contribute to the well-being and satisfaction of others. To help people who need help and improve society. To give assistance, support, and aid to others. To contribute to the betterment of the world. To have a devotion to the welfare of others. To desire to make a difference. To provide direct services to people with problems.
- Spirituality – To believe that there is a higher power, but not necessarily based on religious beliefs. To view life from one’s soul or spirit. To live a life based on one’s own values and ideals and understand who we are and why we are here.
- Travel/Adventure – To take a trip or journey to a desirable location. To be engaged in new, exciting or unusual experience. To participate in activities that might be considered risky or dangerous. To be in a position where you get to take frequent trips.
- Wealth – To own a significant amount of money, property, or other riches. To be considered rich, prosperous, or affluent by others. To have a valuable amount of possessions and resources. To be in a position to have a lot of money.
- Wisdom – To be aware of one’s self, personal calling, and life purpose. To have knowledge and insight of one’s values in order to make good judgments. To have the intuition to use common sense and good judgment in decisions and actions. To understand the importance of making wise choices. To have a desire to understand life.
Was it hard or easy to identify your Top 5 values? And, was it hard or easy to rank-order your Top 5 Values? Know that most people find it hard to do both, since most people never think about their values. As you look over your list, ask yourself, “Are these truly my five most important values?”
Once you have your Top 5, you can further define their importance by writing one or two sentences WHY each of your Top 5 values are important to you – not important to others. It’s one thing to state that this value is important – it’s another thing to state why it matters TO YOU.
Reflect on how you live each of your five values every day. Or, how you aren’t living your Values every day. Your description could be essential providing a framework for you want to live your life.
If you’d like to create this as an interactive activity, click on this link – value-tags-new-size-4-15-12 – to download and print out the 36 values listed above. After you cut them out, you’ll be able to sort them and rank-order your Top 5 values. After you complete the activity yourself, challenge your partner, family members, friends, and/or colleagues to use the “Value Tags” to identify their Top 5 values. Once they have their list, compare (and discuss) your results. This might lead to VERY interesting conversations!
Part 2: Desired Work Values
Every day at work, we make choices – sometimes without thinking. Your work/job/career choices are often based on specific work values. What follows is a list of desired work values that identify the rewards and/or conditions you find appealing at/in work, including the physical setting, job titles, benefits and earnings/earning potential.
These Desired Work Values have a direct impact on your satisfaction with your job, with your career, and even with your life. When you understand the Work Values you cherish most, you can make an evaluation about whether current and/or prospective employment opportunities are aligned with and support those Desired Work values. And if you are considering a career change, understanding your values is critical to identifying a new career path and/or work environment. If you are currently in a position and have been for several years, are you still doing work that really matters to you? Does this work suit you? If you don’t know, maybe it’s time for a Desired Work Values check-up. If you have a few minutes, check out this article on the importance of understanding your values and its relationship to work:
- Do Your Career and Work Values Align? – https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2017/11/13/importance-aligning-your-career-your-core-values-essay
The Desired Work Values activity will have you identify your Top FIVE (5) Desired Work Values you believe are most important (or would be most important) in the work you do. They DO NOT have to be ranked, but feel free to rank them if you desire. (Note: If there’s a Desired Work Value that’s important to you but not on the list, make sure to include it on your list.)
Check out this list to identify your Top 5 Desired Work Values:
- Advancement: To be in a job which offers me a good opportunity for promotion.
- Adventure: To have an opportunity to explore and seek new opportunities.
- Aesthetics: To be involved in studying or appreciating the beauty of things, ideas, etc. To be in a position that is beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
- Affiliation: To be recognized as a member of a particular organization
- Change/Variety: To have work responsibilities which frequently change in their content and setting. To do many different types of tasks and/or using different skills in my work.
- Competition: To engage in activities which pit my abilities against others where there are clear win-and-lose outcomes.
- Creativity: To be able to create new ideas, programs, organizational structures or anything else not following a format previously developed by others. To engage in artistic expression.
- Culture/Community: To have opportunities to engage in/participate in educational, community, and cultural events.
- Excitement: To be able to experience a high degree of (or frequent) pleasure and stimulation in my work.
- Expertise: To work in an occupation where, as I get better, others recognize my skill and begin to ask my advice as an expert. To become an authority in whatever work I decide to do.
- Fast Pace: To work in circumstances where there is a high pace of activity, where work must be done rapidly. To be able to work as fast as I can, to get as much work done in as short a time as possible. Being paid by the number of deadlines achieved or by the number of items completed.
- Flexible Hours: To have work responsibilities which I can work at according to my own time schedule; no specific working hours required. To be able to choose which hours I want to work, as long as the work gets done on time.
- Friendships: To develop close personal relationships with people as a result of my work activities
- Fun: To be in a place where I have fun and enjoyment doing my work.
- Entrepreneur: To be in a job where I am able to try and create new things as if I was starting my own business. To be able to take safe risks in creating new products and/or services.
- Help Society: To do something that contributes to the betterment of the world I live in.
- Help Others: To be involved in helping other people in a direct way, either individually or in small groups
- Independence/Autonomy: To be able to determine the nature of my work without significant direction from others; not have to do what others tell me to do. Be allowed to decide how to reach a goal and in what order to do my work; deciding what to do first and how fast or slow to work.
- Influence People: To be in a position to change attitudes or opinions of other people. To be able to convince or advise people to do the things I believe they should do.
- Intellectual Status: To be regarded as a person of high intellectual prowess or as one who is an acknowledged “expert” in a given field
- Intellectual Stimulation: To do work that keeps my mind active and forces me to think about difficult concepts. To have an opportunity to learn about new things.
- Job Security: To feel safe knowing that my job will always be there. To know that there is little chance I will lose my job. To be assured of keeping my job and a reasonable financial reward for doing that job
- Knowledge: To be in a job that allows me to engage myself in the pursuit of knowledge, truth, and understanding.
- Location: To be in a place to live (town, geographical area) which is conducive to my lifestyle and affords me the opportunity to do the things I enjoy most.
- Make Decisions: To have the power to decide courses of action, policies, etc.
- Making a Difference: To know that the world is a better place because of the work I do.
- Moral Fulfillment: To feel that my work is contributing significantly to a set of moral standards (to be defined by me and/or the organization) which I feel are very important
- Personal Development: To be able to have time for personal growth, professional development, and self-exploration.
- Physical Challenge: To have a job that makes physical demands on me which I would find rewarding.
- Power and Authority: To direct the work activities of others and have the authority, power, and control to make decisions
- Precision Work: To work in situations that are very structured and there is very little tolerance for error.
- Prestige: To do work that others consider important, so that people will respect me and look up to me because of my work. To be viewed by others with honor and reverence.
- Public Contact: To have a lot of day-to-day contact with people.
- Recognition: To be recognized/noticed for the high quality of my work (such as work tasks, achievements, services, etc.) in some visible or public way.
- Recreation/Leisure: To be in a place where I can be involved with or have access to sports and recreation activities/facilities.
- Respect: To feel admiration and appreciation for the work that I do.
- Risk-Taking: To have work duties which involve frequent risk-taking. To be able to take chances.
- Stability: To have work routines and job duties that are largely predictable and not likely to change over a long period of time. To know exactly what I’ll be doing day-in and day-out.
- Supervision: To have a job in which I am directly responsible for the work done by others.
- Teamwork/Work with Others: To work with others toward common goals or to complete a project.
- Time for Family/Self: To have enough time for myself and my family. To work in an environment that has and supports strong family values. To be at a place that provides me ample time off.
- Travel: To have opportunity to take work related trips throughout the year.
- Money/Wealth: To be in a job where I can make large amounts of money, receive great monetary rewards, and/or accumulate great benefits (such as insurance, retirement accounts, free education) for my work.
- Work Alone: To be in a job where I do projects by myself, without any significant amount of contact with others.
- Work under Pressure: To work in situations where time pressure is prevalent and/or the quality of my work is judged critically by supervisors, customers or others.
After reviewing the list, write down your Top 5 Desired Work Vales. Again, they DO NOT have to be rank-ordered, but if you’d like to do so, feel free to rank-order your list.
Part 3: Lifestyle Values
You may not realize this, but you are in charge with the way you live your life. If you could create the lifestyle you want, what qualities would you focus on most? The Lifestyle Values activity will have you pick the most important values on how you want to live now and in the future. What will be the most important aspects of your life that matter most? How do you want to spend your time at home and at work? How do you want to spend your free time? Who do you want to spend your time with? What specific elements of your lifestyle will be most important for you, when you take into consideration such things as work, education, faith, health, possessions, money, and pursuits? What kind of experiences do you want to have? What REALLY matters to you, especially when you think about your future?
Use the list below to identify those Lifestyle Values most important to you. To start, choose as many lifestyle values as you desire. Once you have your list, narrow down your list to those lifestyle values you find most important/desirable by choosing the Top FIVE (5) to SEVEN (7) Lifestyle Values that are (and will be most important. Make sure those you choose are those you believe will dictate the lifestyle you want to have every day. Your Lifestyle Values may also reflect your self-concept – how you see yourself and how you want others see you. These are the lifestyle values that will guide you as you make decisions about your future and how you live your life! They DO NOT have to be ranked, but feel free to rank them if you desire. (Note: If there’s a Lifestyle Value that’s important to you but not on the list, make sure to include it on your list.)
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After reviewing the list, write down your Top FIVE (5) to SEVEN (7) Lifestyle Values. Again, they DO NOT have to be rank-ordered, but if you’d like to do so, feel free to rank-order your list.
Have fun as you explore your Values!
Note: If you’d like to share your results and/or share your thoughts about these assessments, please feel free to share your comments in the “Comments” box below.
Reflection Questions
Once you complete these activities, here are a few questions to reflect on as you think about your values:
- How are your values aligned with your work?
- How are your values aligned with your personal life?
- Are there any values that you would change/replace? Why?
- As you listed your Personal Core, Desired Work, and Lifestyle Values, did you have any feelings that came up as you completed each and/or all of the activities?
- What’s your biggest takeaway from exploring and identifying your values?
Feel free to post your answers to the reflection questions in the “Comments” box below.
Note: If you have a free minute, check out my posting, “character resume reflection,” sharing what I gained from this process.
The Dream Dean 