In life, we all face countless decisions that shape our present and future. But have you ever felt lost, indecisive, or unsure of the right choice? One way to overcome this is by having a clear understanding of our personal core values. Getting quiet with yourself and digging deep to determine personal core values can guide us towards congruent decision-making.
My personal core values are: Freedom, Integrity, Growth, Authenticity, Impact, Connection, Passion & Creation. More words than I’d ideally like, to be honest, but when I look to pare them down – I have a hard time identifying which to put any on the chopping block. Personal core values are the fundamental beliefs and principles that guide our behavior and decisions. They represent what we stand for and what is important to us as individuals. These values are unique to each person and are shaped by our upbringing, experiences, culture, and personal beliefs. Personal core values act as a compass, helping us navigate through life's challenges and opportunities. When we are clear on our values, we can make decisions that align with our beliefs, and this creates a sense of inner peace and fulfillment. It also enables us to prioritize our time and energy towards the things that truly matter to us. When we face a decision, we can ask ourselves whether it aligns with our values. In other words, your personal core values can act at a litmus test of sorts. If it does, we can move forward with confidence, knowing that we are acting in accordance with our beliefs. If it doesn't, we can choose to pass on the opportunity or find a way to reconcile it with our values. Having defined personal core values helps to avoid integrity pain. In conclusion, personal core values play a crucial role in guiding congruent decision-making. By understanding our values, we can make decisions that align with our beliefs, stay true to ourselves, prioritize our time and energy, and build authentic relationships with others. They say, if you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything. So, take some time to reflect on your personal core values and see how they can guide you in decision making. B.
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In my opinion Core Values are essential for any organization. It sums up your company personality, priorities and therefore company culture. I believe core values need to be limited, I have seen some companies have a long list of core values and it tells me they have not boiled down who they are quite yet. Talking about your core values often with your team is important. Having your team see you, as a leader, make decisions based on your Core Values instills trust and buy-in. Defined core values attracts the right people, it keeps the right fits…and equally important, when you stick to your values and don’t compromise, it weeds out the bad fits! It’s almost like strong defined core values that therefore create a specific culture, spit the wrong people out of its mouth. Aspire has 4 Core Values: Team, Growth, Raving Fans & Innovation. Innovation: Innovation is the driving force behind progress and growth. Prioritizing innovation helps us to create products and services that meet the changing needs in the marketplace. Innovation also helps us stay ahead of our competitors by coming up with new ideas and technologies. Innovation helps us stay relevant in the market. To foster innovation, we encourage experimentation and creativity. We stay open to new ideas and are willing to invest in research and development. We empower employees to take ownership of their work and provide them with the resources and support they need to pursue innovative projects. Team: The success of any organization depends on the strength of its team. A strong team is made up of individuals who work together towards a common goal, complement each other's skills, and share the same values. By working together, teams can accomplish more than any individual could on their own. To build a strong team, we prioritize collaboration, communication, and helping each other. We foster a culture vulnerability and servanthood leadership, where we rise by lifting each other. Leaders should also provide their teams with the tools and resources they need to succeed, including training, mentorship, and consistent feedback. Raving fans: Raving fans are customers so satisfied they become advocates for the brand. These fans are not only loyal customers, but they also refer new customers and promote the company through word of mouth and social media. This is how Aspire has been built, one raving fan at a time – referral based. We prioritize customer satisfaction and provide an exceptional customer experience. We respond to customer inquiries and feedback promptly and go above and beyond to exceed customer expectations. We train, measure, and reflect to continually grow in this area. Growth: We prioritize QUALITY growth but most importantly we are focused on personal and professional development for each team member, the more we grow ourselves, the more we will grow Aspire. We have plans for 1, 3 and 5 years forward so we know what we are working for as a company and individually. Leaders should provide their teams with a clear vision for the future and the resources and support they need to achieve their goals. If you don’t have your business core values nailed down, I encourage you to grab your team and start with a brain dump with your team…having your team involved in the process makes it more meaningful! Cheers, Beth In both our personal and professional lives, our values play a critical role in shaping who we are, what we stand for, and how we make decisions. Core values are principles or beliefs that guide our behavior and decision-making, and they are essential for individuals and organizations alike. This blog I will set the stage of the importance of our personal and professional values, and the following weeks I will go into detail as to what my core values are personally and maybe even more importantly, how I nailed them down.
Personal Core Values: Personal core values are beliefs and principles that define who we are as individuals. They are unique to each person and are shaped by our upbringing, experiences, culture, among many other things. Personal core values are a compass that helps us navigate our lives, make important decisions, and stay true to ourselves. Personal core values take time to identify, and a lot of self-reflection and awareness. Living a life aligned with our core values can help us feel more fulfilled. It can also provide a sense of purpose and direction in life, as it can serve as a litmus test of sorts. Personal core values also help us set boundaries and make decisions. For example, if you value health, you might prioritize regular exercise and healthy eating habits over other activities. Business Core Values: In the same way that personal core values guide our individual behavior, business core values guide the behavior of organizations. Business core values are the principles and beliefs that shape an organization's culture, decision-making, and relationships with stakeholders. I am a strong believer that a business should have as few core values as possible, I have seen some businesses with so many core values it would be impossible for a team member to remember and apply them all. Business core values are important because they help establish a company's identity and purpose. They can also help attract and retain employees who share those values. For example, if a company values innovation, it might prioritize investing in research and development and encourage employees to think outside the box. Business core values can also impact how a company interacts with its customers and stakeholders. For example, if a company values social responsibility, it might prioritize giving back to the community through charitable initiatives. The Importance of Aligning Personal and Business Core Values: While personal and business core values may seem like two separate entities, they are closely interconnected. When an individual's personal values align with a company's core values, they are more likely to feel fulfilled and motivated in their work. Conversely, when an individual's personal values conflict with a company's values, it can lead to a sense of dissonance and dissatisfaction. If your company culture is strong, it can also weed out those team members that are not a right fit – they will be able to self-identify the misalignment. Additionally, when a company's core values align with its employees' personal values, it can lead to a more cohesive and productive work environment. Shared values can help build a sense of community and purpose among employees, leading to increased collaboration and innovation. Values should also be revisited every so often as over time they can evolve. In conclusion, both personal and business core values are essential for individuals and organizations. Personal core values help guide our behavior and decision-making, while business core values establish an organization's culture and purpose. When personal and business core values align, it can lead to a more fulfilling and productive life and work environment. Therefore, it's important to identify and prioritize our core values and seek out opportunities that align with them. With love, B As our modern world becomes increasingly fast-paced and demanding, many people strive for work-life balance as the ultimate goal. Work-life balance suggests that one's life should be divided equally between work and personal pursuits. However, I think the idea is more damaging that helpful - heck, even just to walk you need to get out of balance. Which leads me to believe that in order to move forward, life often needs to be out of balance for a season. Hear me out...
The notion of work-life balance implies that work and life are two separate entities that should be given equal attention. This is problematic, work and life are often interconnected, and each can affect the other. For example, if someone is experiencing stress and dissatisfaction at work, it can impact their personal life and vice versa. Trying to compartmentalize these two aspects of life can create unnecessary stress and pressure. Secondly, the concept of work-life balance can be difficult to achieve, especially for those who are starting a new career, a new chapter in life, a new start up business, and the list goes on. It can create an unrealistic expectation that people should be able to achieve perfect balance, and it's simply not true. This can lead to feelings of failure and guilt when balance is not achieved, which can negatively impact mental health and wellbeing. Thirdly, the idea of work-life balance often suggests that personal pursuits are less important than work. This can lead to people neglecting their personal needs and passions in favor of work, which can lead to burnout and a lack of fulfillment. Instead, we should focus on work-life harmony (as Grant Botma's book implies), which recognizes that work and personal life are intertwined and can coexist in a more harmonious way. Finally, the concept of work-life balance tends to overlook the fact that work can bring a sense of purpose and fulfillment to one's life. Work can provide opportunities for personal growth, social interaction, and a sense of achievement. Rather than striving for a strict balance between work and personal life, we should focus on finding meaning and satisfaction in both. The idea of work-life balance may seem like a noble goal, but I think it does us a dis-service. Instead, we should aim for work-life harmony and recognize that life will bring different seasons and the harmony will look differently with each one. Work and personal life are interconnected and can coexist in a more harmonious way. By finding meaning and fulfillment in both aspects of life, we can create a more fulfilling existence. Food for thought! Beth |
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