Identifying your values and aligning them with your career
Being able to name what you care about most and match up those values with your career infuses a sense of purpose into what you do for a living.
“What do you do for work?”
You may hear that question often at friendly get-togethers or whenever you meet someone new. People rarely ask, “How does your work align with what’s most important to you?” Although asked far less, this question is important to think about and can help you discover the “why” behind your work — your values.
Building a career rooted in your values can give you a sense of purpose and satisfaction every day. In this article, you’ll learn how to identify your values, how they affect your work, and how to align them with your career.
What are values, and what role do they play in your job?
Your values are the ideas or beliefs that matter most to you and help define you. Values typically guide people in their decision-making and behavior and help shape how they view success and what success includes.
So, where do values come from? Some values are developed from our families’ or cultural influences and our childhood experiences. In contrast, others slowly evolve as we adopt them. If you haven’t reflected on your values in a while, it might be helpful to assess if they still feel true to you or if they need to be redefined.
Your values can reveal your personal mission
Have you ever done or said something that didn’t align with your values? It may have felt uncomfortable to you, as though it was the wrong thing to do or a poor reflection of yourself. This discomfort highlights the power of acting on your personal values and remaining true to yourself.
Likewise, incorporating your values into your work can be empowering, adding a sense of purpose and meaning to your everyday life. Being in tune with your values can help direct you toward a meaningful career.
Reflect: Values-driven action leads to satisfaction. What action have you taken recently that was driven by a value you held?
What if you don’t know what your values are yet?
What if your values haven’t been top of mind when you’ve looked for a new job? What if you simply needed to find something that puts food on the table and pays the bills — even if you didn’t love it? If you’ve been there, you’re not alone! Two-thirds of people are unsatisfied with their jobs, and 15% hate their jobs, according to research by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, authors of Designing Your Life.
If you’re not sure what your values are or if they don’t align with your job right now, that’s okay. It’s normal (and completely understandable) to prioritize more basic needs — like shelter, food, clothing, and providing for your family — when searching for a job.
Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist, described this idea as a “hierarchy of needs.” He believed that people naturally prioritize their physical needs for safety and provision before pursuing higher needs like aligning their work with their values. This is why you’re more likely to make sure your basic needs are met before you even begin thinking about what your values are and how you can build them into your career.
Reflect: On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied are you in your job? If you aren’t happy in your current role, consider what may be keeping you in this position. It might be time to think about creative ways to cultivate your values at work.
How to become aware of your values
As we mentioned earlier, not being aware of your values is very common! Identifying and cultivating your values takes intentional self-reflection. If you’re unsure where to start, use the questions below to help uncover your values. Consider journaling your answers so you can revisit them.
- What bothers you? Think about a time when you complained about something that upset you. What motivated your complaint? What were you fighting for? What do you wish had happened instead, and how would that situation have been better for you?
- What do you want your legacy to be? Imagine you’re at your 80th birthday party and a dear friend starts giving a speech about what they love about you. What do you hope they’d say? What do you want to be remembered for at the end of your life? What do you want to accomplish?
- What are your strengths? Think about a few hardships you’ve gone through. What strengths helped you overcome those challenges?
- What if money were no object? Imagine you had all the money you could ever need. If you never had to work another day, how would you spend your money and time?
- What qualities do you admire? Think of two or three people you admire most. What do you find so admirable about them? Which of their qualities do you aspire to have?
- What brings you joy? Think back to when you felt a deep sense of happiness and freedom in simply being yourself. Pause to relive that moment in your mind. What about that experience made you so happy?
If you wrote down your answers, look over them again. Do you notice any patterns emerging — perhaps a few clues as to what’s most important to you in life? As you narrow down what your values may be, try listing them one by one and asking yourself if they feel true to you.
Are you aligned with your values?
Now that you’ve uncovered your values, it’s essential to ask yourself if you’re demonstrating them, including when it comes to your career. Bringing your values into your day-to-day work might look different depending on your current situation and goals. It might mean changing your mindset or the way you approach your job. Or it might mean pursuing a different position or career path that better aligns with your values.
Reflect: It can be powerful to say aloud the motivations behind your goals. Ask yourself, What’s my “why”? Understanding the reasons you’re working so hard will help you keep going on hard days. If you keep asking “why?” you’ll eventually arrive at the values that ground you.
Knowing your values can help you map out your career in a way that’s authentic. To begin to incorporate your values into your professional goals, you can think or talk through the questions below on your own, with a friend, or with a Guild coach.*
- Am I making choices that will help me create the life and career I want? Do I feel satisfied in my current position? If not, why am I making those choices?
- What choices do I need to make to align my current and future career with what I care about? What knowledge or skills might I need to learn?
- How can I create time in my schedule to make the changes I need to make?
Figuring out how to root your career in your values isn’t necessarily easy, but it’s always worthwhile. By incorporating what matters most to you into your job, you can enjoy a sense of purpose and satisfaction every day.
As you become more aware of your values, it can help to book a session with a Guild Coach to deepen your understanding. Guild members and learners should log into the Guild portal and schedule time with a coach.*
*Guild coaching is only available to Guild members and learners whose employer includes Guild coaching within their benefit. If you are eligible for Guild but don’t have an account, this is your chance to create one.