The hidden forces that shape your life: finding your core values
As a Scrum Master, I work with teams and support them in their journey to continuously improve themselves and deliver value to their customers. At a minimum, a team is a group of individuals collaborating towards a shared goal.
Over the years, I learned that identifying shared values is powerful in growing as a team. Shared team values create a deeper connection that feels stronger than just a shared external goal. Establishing shared values helps a team to align on what they find most important in their collaboration. It adds to their identity.
If values can be so effective for teams on their professional journey, why not identify our core values for our personal growth?
Values are the beliefs or principles that define what you find important in your life. Values are at the core of your personality and drive your behavior. Values act as a moral compass, often unknowingly, when you make essential decisions in life. Living in line with your values will make you feel content and happy. When your life is not aligned with your values, it will feel wrong or even miserable.
How to determine your personal values
So, which values define you at your core? Which values are so fundamental to you that they are non-negotiable? Here are three techniques to identify your personal values…
Picklist
When you search for ‘personal values’ or ‘core values’ on the internet, you’ll find numerous lists of values. Pick one, browse it, and write down those values that resonate with you. Trust your gut feeling here. You’ll likely end up with a long list at first. Now, cluster these values together in groups of related values. For each group, choose one value that best describes the values in that group and which appeals to you most. Now you have a shortlist. Pick the top 5 values that you care about most.
Past experiences
Another approach is to reflect on the best moments in your life when you felt most happy, proud, or delighted. Relive that experience and ask yourself: what made me feel that way back then? Which values were fulfilled? This approach works the same with bad moments and conflicts. In that case, which values were neglected or at stake?
Role models
Who are your heroes in life? Which people, dead or alive, inspire you? It does not have to be an international celebrity. It could be someone close to you, like a friend or family member. Which qualities do you admire in them? Could that be a value that is important to you?
An example
My personal values are inspiration, integrity, openness, and fun. Here’s a quick rundown of what these mean to me…
- Inspiration works both ways for me: I like to read and learn new stuff. Personal stories touch me, and I collect inspirational quotes. I also enjoy writing and sharing my experiences with others, which is why I created this newsletter and A Scrum Master’s Guide to Happiness.
- Integrity is fundamental to me. I want to do what is right and can’t stand inconsistent or unfair behavior. I want to trust people and to be trusted.
- For me, openness means genuine curiosity and empathy for others. I like to speak my mind honestly. It’s great to experience how openness stimulates openness.
- And fun is very dear to me, too. I want to enjoy life with pleasant people and good food. And plenty of humor, especially dad jokes of course.
Your values
How about you? What are your personal values, and what do they mean to you? How do you incorporate your values into your life?
Or are you thinking of trying out one of the techniques presented above? Please let me know how that went. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Take care and till next time!
Kind regards,
Scrumpy Dad