Our values drive us throughout our entire day and underpin all our major decisions. But do we really know what our core values are? And what would we change if we did?

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+44 (0) 7976 751 095 dan@danbeverly.com http://danbeverly.com
Values: The Single Most Powerful Self-
Development Step You Can Take
15 March 2016
Our values drive us throughout our entire day and underpin all our major decisions. But do we
really know what our core values are? And what would we change if we did?
That which is most
important to us
Our Values are those things most important to us.
Our values drive us from the moment we rise in the
morning until the moment we retire in the evening. They
underpin all our major decisions - and most of the minor
ones. And whether you like them or not, your values are
your values. You can't choose them and you can't change
them. You are you.
Discovering, understanding and embracing our core
values is the single most powerful self-development step
we can take.
We might not immediately think that. Or we might say
that sounds an overstatement. Because we talk about our
values like it's obvious what they are and why we hold
them. But I can tell you: people go their whole lives
without knowing what their core values are.
"Oh yes, I most value honesty, integrity and
trustworthiness," we might say. And perhaps those are
your top 3 core values. And if so, I respect that: they're
great values. But are they really your top 3 core values -
or is this (or something like it) just your stock response to
the values question?
If I take myself as an example: I consider myself to be an
honesty and trustworthy person; and I like to think I act
with integrity. But I don't mind sharing with you that
honesty, integrity and trustworthiness are nowhere near
my list of core values.
My #1 value is Harmony. And my top 6 values also
include Honour. When I act with honesty, integrity and
trustworthiness, for me, it's an expression of those core
(again for me, higher) values.
And it's been far more useful to me to know that harmony
and honour are my deepest core values, than pretend or
misunderstand honesty, integrity and trustworthiness to be
what's truly driving my thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

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+44 (0) 7976 751 095 dan@danbeverly.com http://danbeverly.com
One simple question to
discover your core values
One simple question to discover the core value beneath a
goal or behaviour is to ask: "what will that get for me?"
And then to keep asking it: to drill-down to your core,
underlying value.
For example: you might ask yourself what's most
important about a goal to find a new job. And your first
answer might be "financial security". And when I have
financial security, what will that get for me? Peace of
mind. And when I have peace of mind, what will that
get for me? Freedom. And when I have freedom, what
will that get for me? Happiness.
And so on, until you start circling back round to the same
value or values. Or when you start to use identity-level
statements starting "I", for example: "I grow", "I learn", "I
adapt".
A final tip: be sure not to over-think this process. Else we
tend to start evaluating our values; or choosing the values
we think we should have.
Your Values Assessment
Workbook (free download)
Once we know our values, we can look afresh at the
things that we do; at our goals and our aspirations; at the
things that we want. And from there, look at where our
values are being most expressed, where our values are in
conflict, and where our values could be expressed more.
To help you discover, understand and embrace your core
values, download my free Values Assessment Workbook.
And take that single most powerful self-development step.
VALUES WORKBOOK
http://danbeverly.com/values-assessment.pdf/
Dan Beverly is a leadership and performance coach helping high-calibre, high-
performing professional women embrace the pivotal career moments.
His mission is to inspire possibility in others: to help us excel in careers without
compromise; and to leave us feeling energised and uplifted by a new future.
Go online to book your complimentary “Session Zero” with Dan – and start
capitalising on your pivotal career moments today.
http://danbeverly.com/session-zero