Psychology
for Business
eNewsletter
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We are dedicated to bringing out
the best in you and your employees
Vol.2, No.15
July27, 2001
By Lynda Dahlke, Business Psychologist and Independent Consultant
Have
you wrestled with a decision lately? At
some point we all have difficulty making a choice or decision as to which path
to follow. When hiking in the woods
with unmarked trails we often take a compass along to aid us when we need to
make a choice as to which path to follow. What
do you use to guide your decision-making when you’re not in the woods?
One
compass that we all have available to help us make decisions is our individual
set of values. Sure, we’ve all
heard about the importance of values in setting goals, however for most of us
it’s something we don’t really take the time to examine.
According to Richard Leider in his book entitled ”Life Skills”, fewer
than 10 people of 100 have really taken the time to identify the values that
drive their behavior.
What
Are Values?
A value is something that you
consistently act on to get or to keep. It
is a principle or quality that arouses desire in us.
The more consistently and enthusiastically we commit our time and money
to something, the more we value it. Glancing
through our calendar and checkbook gives us a clue as to what we value.
By living our values, one lives a life more “awake” to what it has to
offer. We are more likely to be
proactive rather than reactive. Clarifying
values and committing energy to them means we have a life strategy.
All of us know people who have drifted
with the circumstances of their life, accepting less than life can offer and who
take no risks to create a proactive approach to life.
How long has it been since you took a look at what you want out of life
and evaluated how you spend your time? Values
reveal who we are and what we believe in. In
the workplace you will be much more effective if you are working toward goals
which represent your deeply held values.
How Do Values
Emerge? How Do We Clarify Them?
Reflection is a good place to
start. For many of us this is very tough to do.
For every person who gathers the courage to explore their values, there
are many more who continue to pursue the “busyness” of daily life, hoping to
rely on others to provide the compass.
As part of your reflective experience,
answer the following questions:
1.) Who has had the deepest impact on
your life and what value did they impart to
you?
2.) What book or movie has contributed to
your values and why?
3.) Tennyson in Ulysses states “I
am part of all I have met”. What
experiences have
helped
shape your life or career?
Values shift as we go through
different stages of life. What was
once important may now be less so. We
live in a dynamic, ever changing world. We know that it is no longer possible to settle into a
predictable pattern for a lifetime. Exploring
values assists us to become aware of our priorities and, as a consequence, to
live in closer harmony with our beliefs. Clarifying
our currently held values provides a compass for decision making in life and
work. Through understanding our
values, it is possible to shape the life we want.
Walking
the “Talk”
In the process of clarifying values, a
gap may emerge between what we say our values are and how we actually behave.
Leider has identified five criteria to determine whether we actually hold
a value or not:
1.) Did you choose it freely?
(not forced on you by others)
2.) Did you choose from
alternatives? (explore options)
3.) Did you give it thoughtful
consideration?
4.)
Are you willing to commit to the choice publicly?
5.)
Do you carry out the choice day-to-day?
Work
Values—Taking Stock
Answer the question:
“Why do I work?” Look honestly at what you need and want.
Values play a crucial role in work satisfaction.
During times of change, the need to understand work values is even more
important. Organizational changes
force value decisions and choices are easier when we have clarified values to
serve as our compass.
Values help make sense of our world.
Every decision you make is based on :
1.)
your values
2.) the facts of the situation.
Work values are influenced by
experiences with other people including peers, reports, managers, family
members, teachers and friends, as well as, professional colleagues.
These influences can be powerful in shaping our values.
Values are not right or wrong, good or bad…they are personal choices.
Finding a work environment that is consistent with your personal values
is a big step toward finding a rewarding and motivating workplace for you.
So, do yourself a favor and reflect on what values make up your personal “compass.” Don’t get “lost in the woods” when tough decisions need to be made!
About the Author
Lynda Dahlke, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience
working with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds and levels of
responsibility. She is able to deliver practical, action oriented assessment and
guidance. Lynda specializes in pre-employment assessment, executive and
managerial coaching, conflict management and organizational
diagnostics/consulting.
Based in Waukesha, WI, Dr. Lynda Dahlke is available for consultation or
coaching by phone, e-mail or in person. She may be reached at (262)
544-9918 (office), by e-mail at ldahlke@psychologyforbusiness.com or:
Lynda Dahlke, Ph.D.
Psychology for Business
2717 North Grandview Boulevard, Suite 303
Waukesha, Wisconsin, 53188
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(c) Copyright 2001. All rights reserved. Lynda Dahlke. Distribution rights: The
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