VALUE – Buzz word? – Cool Thing? Do you really know what it is?
The Illusion of Knowing Ourselves
We went to a small forum the other night. The topic was about organizational culture and how to build one that fits right for your company.
To me, culture is the air that everybody in an organization breathes in.
If it is nice and clean, like the air in the forest, your lungs function better, your brain feels fresh, and your body works more effectively.
It is that vital.
Like Wiki mentioned, I would like to say that company culture is derived from social behavior (how most people in your office behave), habits (what the norms are), and beliefs (why they behave the way they do).
If you want to cultivate a certain culture in your team and organization, it depends a lot on how you shape the behavior of each and every person, including yourself.
Example:
Culture of growth → Many behaviors need to be established to make that happen
Ex. Encouraging each other to learn new skills, actively giving and receiving feedback, being fiercely open to suggestions and yes you can add many more.
Our behavior comes from what we value and believe in…….
So now, the question is:
You want to build the culture, but…
“Do you really know your values, or are you just repeating what sounds good?“
The irony > Many people struggle to define what truly matters to them, yet they discuss values as if they are just “cool” buzzword
One guy at the forum that night kindly shared that he had just created a value set for his company to help him hire the right teammates.
When asked what those values were…
His answer: “I forgot.”
.
.
.
What I’m saying here is the importance of truly knowing who you are.
The set of values for your organization doesn’t need to be fancy, doesn’t need to sound amazing, and doesn’t need to match what other successful organizations have.
It should be what you REALLY believe in.
What would keep you awake at night to make it happen.
What would bring you the most joy and fulfillment every day.
Your values show up in every single thing you do.
And of course, your team or organization’s values should align with your personal values. I
f they don’t, you need to be clear on what’s misaligned and work on that.
Example:
If your personal value is well-being & balance while your organization values excellence, you need to create a plan and set of behaviors that will help you accomplish both.
Awareness and clarity are vital for your mental peace and performance.
Why Self-Awareness Matters in Everyday Life
Studies show that people who are more self-aware experience better decision-making, stronger relationships, and greater well-being.
Do you know who you really are?
In 2017, organizational psychologist Tasha Eurich conducted a series of surveys and found that while 95% of people think they’re self-aware, only 10-15% truly are. (I hope that number has increased and that we are really working towards helping people become more self-aware.)
She cites three reasons for this disconnect:
1. We naturally have blind spots. We’re wired to operate on autopilot, unaware of how we’re behaving and why.
2. The feel-good effect. We’re happier when we see ourselves in a more positive light.
3. The “cult of self.” As social media has exploded in popularity, we’ve become more self-absorbed.
When you are more aware of yourself and others, you can more clearly see your own values.
Example:
I find myself in 100% full joy bar when I am able to complete my daily tasks,
which include mindfulness meditation, exercise, reading, writing, and of course, diving wholeheartedly into awesome work.
I translate this into my top two values: Well-being & Excellence.
Words don’t matter. You just need to look closely at your daily life, and you’ll see what truly matters to you.
The Trap of ‘Trendy’ Values vs. Real Values
Common mistake:
People adopt values that sound impressive rather than identifying what truly matters.
Let’s go back to the guy from the forum. He said he forgot the value set he just created for his own company.
My take:
– He might be afraid to share what might not be a “cool” word.
– Or he doesn’t really know what matters to him.
Don’t fall into that trap. Keep it simple. Keep it from the heart.
If your value set sounds too beautiful to remember,
How on earth will your team remember it?! and know what kind of behavior they need to align with organizational values?
This applies to big organizations, teams, and even one-person companies; YOURSELF
A quick self-check: Are your daily actions aligned with your stated values?
The ‘Last Time’ Mindset – A Reality Check
I listened to a lesson this morning on the Waking up app : “The Last Time.”
When was the last time you tucked your child into bed?
When was the last time you told your parents you loved them?
When was the last time you saw your close friend?
We live life assuming we have unlimited time, yet we rarely reflect on whether we are spending it in alignment with what we truly value.
I used to love surfing, and the last time I surfed was many years ago. That time I picked up my surfboard, did I know it was my last time until now?
Not at all.
Sam Harris was talking about his last time snowboarding, and I resonated deeply with that.
The life we experience every day, every minute; we truly don’t know when our last moments will be.
Question to ponder: Are you living your everyday life in alignment with what you value?
How to Build Everyday Self-Awareness
A simple exercise I love to use with my coaching clients comes from positive psychology, adapted from Kirschenbaum (2013): Completing these sentences can help clarify your values:
Explore them across 8 dimensions of life:
Wealth | Career | Relationships | Health | Fun | Growth | Spirituality | Community
(DM me if you want a copy, or Google can help!)
These questions help you truly understand what matters in your life and what each aspect really means to you.
Example:
– The best thing about money is …
– I respect friends and partners who …
– The thing I look forward to most about working is …
– I keep myself fit because …
– I love to learn new things because …
You will start to see patterns emerge across different areas of your life.
Another simple thing to do: Notice patterns in your decisions and emotions.
What motivates you? What triggers you? What brings you joy?
When we make choices based on real values, life becomes more meaningful.
And it all starts with self-awareness. Not what’s trendy out there
but what’s truly within……
You only have this many blocks in life
Tim Urban, the mind behind this calendar block, highlights just how crucial it is to live with intention.
Looking at this grid of empty boxes, I’m reminded that they are mine to fill.
We often feel trapped in our routines, but in reality, each blank square represents endless possibilities.
Every person we look up to, every trailblazer in history; they all built their lives using the same set of days and weeks.
Question to leave you with:
Are you living each block fully?
Does it align with what you value?
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Ping in your thoughts in the comment. I love to hear 🙂
