It’s Time to Author Your Personal Core Values

Writing core values brings clarity, which is what most of us need more of in 2020.

A leader I used to work with would often say, “clarity gives energy.” Perhaps that explains why so many people are feeling exhausted – 2020 has created more questions than answers. It’s difficult to see clearly when you’re in a storm, and the unforgettable turbulence this year has made most people feeling less clear about everything. But there’s good news for anyone determined to weather the storm and come out stronger on the other side; the dark clouds of 2020 have a silver lining.

Have you heard of being shaken or challenged to your core? Facing tremendous obstacles has a way of returning us to our foundation which is exactly where we need to go to gain clarity. Clarity begins with knowing who you are and what matters most – these are your core values – and they are necessary for safe navigation in all conditions, especially when the world around you is upside down.

The events of 2020 have exposed the core value pretenders. Consider the decisions businesses have had to make: How do we keep employees and customers safe and our doors open? How do we support a more equitable society? How do we care for the ongoing well-being of our employees? The way businesses have answered these questions has revealed whether the core values they post on their website are a true reflection of who they are, or just words on a page. Yet throughout 2020, businesses that have remained true to their core values have found the clarity needed to navigate “unprecedented” times. The same is true for individual people.

Like a business, people can gain clarity during challenging times by returning to the practice of writing core values. However, unlike a business, most people are not writing core values or sharing them with others. Imagine what would happen if they did? When a business publishes their core values, they are telling the world who they are and what they believe matters most. They are explaining how they make decisions, what will be at the foundation of their relationships and what the world can expect from them. They are differentiating themselves, defining the way they operate and inviting anyone who reads those values to hold them accountable. When individuals are writing core values and sharing them, they are doing the same. It’s time for you to put your personal core values to work and navigate with clarity despite the storm.

Here’s a way to get started:

Join humanworks for a session on authoring personal core values. Learn best practices, see examples and participate in a core values writing activity. Develop values language you can use at work or in a job search to build connections, make decisions or strengthen your personal brand. To be informed about upcoming workshops, sign up for our e-mail newsletter.