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We know that in order to be a leader of people you need to know your people: who they are, what drives them and what makes them click.
As you need to know your people, you also need to know yourself. What makes you click? What drives you? We need to take time during our careers and our lives to sit back and think about what and who we are and as importantly… why.
Without this base knowledge of ourselves, it is very difficult to drive our careers forward, to drive ourselves day-to-day and especially to work with others.
To understand ourselves at this level we are challenged to understand our core values?
My friend, Wikipedia, defines core values as “…the guiding principles that dictate behavior and action. Core values can help people to know what is right from wrong; they can help companies to determine if they are on the right path and fulfilling their business goals; and they create an unwavering and unchanging guide.”
Core values should become the guiding principles for each of us personally and for our organizations. I think the key to those word are the last few: they create an unwavering and unchanging guide.
Inc. Magazine published an article recently by @KevinJDaum called Define Your Personal Core Values: 5 Steps https://goo.gl/DKeM1 where we are told that core values need to be articulated clearly in writing and tested through daily decision-making.
Defining your core values and living by them should not be a casual, ‘wing-it’ exercise. This requires a concentrated, focussed effort and a defined follow-through.
I found an interesting web site that offered a list of potential core values https://goo.gl/V2geyT –
- Dependable
- Reliable
- Loyal
- Committed
- Open-minded
- Consistent
- Honest
- Efficient
- Innovative
- Creative
- Humorous
- Fun-loving
- Adventurous
- Motivated
- Positive
- Optimistic
- Inspiring
- Passionate
- Respectful
- Athletic
- Fit
- Courageous
- Educated
- Respected
- Loving
- Nurturing
So how do we go about defining OUR core values? Try this…
Step 1- Look at the list above.
Step 2 – Select three values that you would like least to compromise on.
Step 3 – Formulate a statement that incorporates them
Step 4 – Try to live that statement as often as you can
Step 5 – Rreview as often as you can
So what are your core values? And who cares?… YOU!!!
As Mahatma Ghandi said, “Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. Your values become your destiny.”
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