Value Matters

BY HELEN TSOTSOS

So, what is it that matters most to you? Perhaps you can rhyme off a short list of must-haves. Try coming up with an ongoing list, though, and you may get stuck. Understanding what’s really important to you connects you to your basic values. Values are determined to be beliefs or philosophies that deliver a sense of meaning and purpose. Whether conscious or unconscious, values serve as a set of guiding principles for all.

What if you were forced to forgo your own values for someone else’s? Imagine, for a moment, you have a strong need for financial security. You are then told that you must volunteer 50 percent of all the work you perform, leaving you with half of your desired income. The mere thought could ignite a flurry of flight or fight responses. What motivates and inspires one person may leave another feeling purely frustrated or simply unmoved.

Expressing your values deliberately will give you focus and direction, both personally and professionally. Making a conscious connection to what’s really important to you can save you time, energy and aggravation. Values are the foundation for behaviors, goals and actions. They are the lifeblood of your overall vision. Only when you connect to what’s most important to you and work it into your business and life can you experience true success and fulfillment.

In his book Working with Emotional Intelligence, Goleman says, “Personal values are not lofty abstractions, but intimate credos that we may never quite articulate in words so much as feel”. The personal nature of values is what causes us to defend them so vehemently. Try to explain any values, such as mutual respect, creativity or fun without explaining how they make you feel. Values are exponentially more powerful when they are experienced on mass. Groups such as families, organizations or society at large have incredible influence when all its members are collectively connected through core values.

Values are evident in all aspects of our existence. They can be personal, professional, cultural and social. Personal values define who you are and what’s important to you. They show others what you’re all about. Wouldn’t you know if hard work, reliability and respectfulness were part of someone’s agenda? Values help sustain a connection between individuals with similar experiences, such as co-workers, ethnic groups, family and friends. Context will determine the specific values expressed.

Establish your core values. They are a motivational force that when implemented will energize everything and everyone involved. Commit to and apply your values to keep life fresh and dynamic. The same is true for business. Organizations with clear and stated values tell others who they are and what they stand for. This serves to magnetize like-valued individuals with interest and enthusiasm.

Values determine what you move toward or away from. To get started in clarifying your core values, name three values that are important to you and that you wish to move towards, i.e. freedom, professional growth. Now, name three feeling states that you wish to avoid, i.e. fear, anger. Finally, ask yourself what you need in order to create your ideal future, one that allows you to be the best you can possibly be, i.e. focus, self-discipline. The clearer you can get, the quicker you’ll get what you want and avoid what
you don’t want.

When it comes to values in the workplace, it is important to understand that people want to make a difference through what they contribute. Peak performance is more likely when individuals have the opportunity to align their personal values with those the organization has in place. An example of how an organization may work with individual values is by providing flexible schedules or opportunities for personal and professional growth.

In business, values may be applied as they relate to particular functions of the business. Some of the more common arenas that values are established for are leadership, teams, customers and business growth. The more specific you can get with any area of your life and business, the more clarity you will have with respect to choices and actions. This ultimately leads to alignment with actions that offer greater results and satisfaction.

Behaviors are extensions of values. Behaviors are observable and measurable. Starting with a set of values, determine the actions that support these and begin to implement them. This will ensure that actions reflect what is truly important to you. This is especially key in the workplace to ensure consistency. For instance, consider what it would look like for individuals to act from integrity in your workplace? Setting up standards for this value will guarantee it is expressed.

Numerous individuals influence personal values over a lifetime. Understanding the impact of key people and events offers insight into why some beliefs and actions are so strong. Consider some of the important people in your life who have offered you advice or influenced you. How have these people changed you? What values have they offered you? How do your values impact others, as well?

Values are ideals that guide your conduct, interactions with others and choices you make. They are the markers that help you to distinguish what is right from what is wrong. Get clear on your values and move forward with passion an purpose. Values really do matter!

Helen Tsotsos is an Adler Certified Professional Coach (ACPC), an entrepreneur, a certified trainer and leader. She has partnered 20 years of success as a day spa owner with her Business Coaching practice to serve the industry she knows and loves. Helen understands the needs and challenges of spa professionals and uses her practical wisdom, experience and education to motivate and inspire her clients through change and growth. She has worked with business leaders, managers and executives to support and enhance personal and professional success through powerful visioning, creative strategies and effective action plans. For more information on individual and group coaching, customized training programs and workshops, please contact Helen at (416) 466-1541 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.successdynamics.ca.

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