40-MINUTE TOOL TO

CLARIFY �your personal values

A 40-minute exercise for executives & leaders�

Many of us feel like we bring one “self ” to work, another to our families, and yet another to our friends or community. Values-driven leaders find that no matter the people around them, they hold true to certain internal factors of their self.

We think of these as their core values. �

Developing yourself as a values-driven leader is a life-long journey.

It starts with clarifying your own personal values. � This 40-minute exercise will help you identify your values; it will also begin to help you clarify how you want to express those values.

Before you get started, prepare for the exercise by:

•  Finding a quiet place where you will be undisturbed�•  Printing our values sheet, found at www.cvdl.org/growpersonally�•  Having a pen and 10 index cards on hand��Follow the steps on each slide, and complete the step before clicking to the next slide.

Consider the list of common values on the provided worksheet. Take 5-10 minutes to quickly work through the sheet, circling the 10 values that most answer the question,

What values do I most want to be true of myself?� Consider both the values that represent your true and authentic self, and also your aspirational self. �

When you have narrowed your list to 10 values, �click to the next slide. �

Do you have your 10 values? Great!� This is a good place to start. However, the human brain is wired to remember seven or fewer random pieces of information at a time. So we need to take your 10 values, and reduce them to the 5 most important.

To do this, take your 10 index cards and write one value on each card. Like this:

Integrity

Turn your 10 cards into 5. You can do this by “force ranking” your cards and selecting the top 5 values. Or combine some values under the umbrella of another value. (For example, you might decide Creativity is an umbrella term that includes the value of Innovation.)

Be creative. Feel free to add a new word �if it better represents your value. �

�Take 10 minutes to do this. Click the next slide when you’re done.

So now you have your 5 core values.��Take a look at your 5 remaining cards again. Do they truly represent who you are and what you believe to be most important? Would your executive team agree? Your spouse/partner, children, or closest friends? If not, take time to rethink your selections. If so, click to the next slide.

Congratulations!� You’ve identified your five core values. We hope this has been a meaningful experience all ready, but don’t stop now.

Values are meant to be lived out.� Living out your values is easier to do when you know exactly what you mean by them. So let’s create a values map.

For the next 10 minutes, work through your values one-by-one, and “map your meaning.” To create your map, take your first value, draw a line out from the word on your index card, and write in a connected idea that further explains what you mean by your value and how you see it at work in your life.

Want an example? �

Integrity

I keep my word�

I value honesty in others and respect people who tell the truth, even if I disagree �

I don’t make ethical compromises or tolerate compromises on my team�

When I make decisions, I consider my values �

I won’t hurt others in an effort to get ahead�

I know I make mistakes and want to be forgiven; I extend forgiveness to others �

When you’ve completed the values map for each of your five core values, click to the next slide.

Our 40 minutes are just about up. But before you go, let’s talk about what comes next. �

This is just the beginning.� On the next slides you’ll find a few suggestions of how you can continue to explore your core values, and how those values can develop your leadership capacity.

First, you may have noticed that some of the values on your list (or some of the concepts you “mapped” to your values) are more aspirational than actual. The first thing you can do to develop yourself as a values-driven leader is

Mind the gap� Find the ways you’re not living up to your own values, and work to resolve it.

Next, take your values to work. Identify your organization’s corporate values, and explore how they relate to your own. Invite your executive team to do this exercise, and discuss the results together at your next leadership retreat. If your company doesn’t have a formal list of values, contact our team and ask how we can help you identify your corporate values. (Find contact info on the last page.)

And … �

Check out our eBook “Making Values Meaningful: A Menu of Options for Senior Leaders” for dozens of specific ideas on how to put values in action.

www.cvdl.org/menu �

Want to continue developing yourself as a values-driven executive, or need resources for developing your team? At the Center for Values-Driven Leadership, we help executives lead boldly at four levels: 1.  Personally: Grow as a values-driven leader 2.  Interpersonally: Develop great people and teams 3.  Organizationally: Build flourishing companies 4.  Globally: Transform business and society

Learn More:�www.cvdl.org �info@cvdl.org�

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