In the pursuit of career success, we’re often encouraged to focus on our skills, qualifications, and accomplishments. And while these are undeniably important, there’s another layer—often overlooked—that quietly shapes our greatest career moves and missteps: our values.
Your values are the principles and beliefs that matter most to you. They’re not just about ethics or morality; they’re about meaning. What makes a job feel fulfilling? What drives your best decisions? What fuels your motivation even on hard days? The answer usually lives in your values.
So if you’re looking for a career that doesn’t just look successful on paper but actually feels like success from the inside, values are where you start.
What Are Values—Really?
Values are not the same as goals. Goals are what you want to achieve. Values are how you want to live and work. They guide your behaviour, priorities, and sense of purpose.
Some examples of core values:
- Integrity – Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching
- Creativity – Having space to think, innovate, and express ideas
- Autonomy – The freedom to make decisions and work independently
- Collaboration – Working closely with others in a team-oriented way
- Impact – Knowing your work creates a meaningful difference
- Learning – Continuous growth and intellectual stimulation
Your unique combination of values acts as an internal compass—pointing you toward environments where you’ll thrive and away from situations where you’ll struggle.
Step 1: Identify Your Core Values
This is often harder than it sounds. We’re conditioned to say what we think we should value—success, ambition, stability—but true values are often discovered through reflection, not assumptions.
Try asking yourself:
- When was I most energised or fulfilled at work? What made that possible?
- When have I felt frustrated, drained, or stuck? What value might have been missing or violated?
- What do I admire in others?
- What kind of legacy or impact do I want to leave?
It can help to write down 10 values and then narrow them down to your top 3–5. These are your non-negotiables—your North Star.
Step 2: Align Your Career with Your Values
Knowing your values is one thing—living them at work is another.
Ask yourself:
- Does my current role support or compromise my core values?
- Do I feel like I can be myself at work—or am I constantly performing?
- Am I proud of the culture, mission, or outcomes of the organisation I’m part of?
If the answer is no, it might be time to rethink the direction you’re heading—not because your job is bad, but because it’s not yours.
Even small changes can make a difference:
- Seeking out teams or projects that better reflect your values
- Setting boundaries that honour your priorities (e.g., work-life balance)
- Advocating for change within your current organisation
- Or, when necessary, making a bold pivot
Values-driven alignment doesn’t just create happiness—it enhances performance, engagement, and resilience.
Step 3: Communicate Your Values Clearly
When you articulate your values, you help others understand what drives you and what kind of work environment helps you thrive.
Ways to communicate your values:
- In your CV or LinkedIn summary: “I’m driven by a belief in the power of collaborative leadership to build inclusive, high-performing teams.”
- In interviews: “One of the values that shapes my approach is integrity. I’m someone who believes in doing things the right way, not the fast way.”
- In networking: “I’m looking for roles in organisations where creativity and experimentation are part of the culture.”
Being vocal about your values doesn’t limit your opportunities—it attracts the right ones.
Step 4: Use Your Values as a Decision-Making Filter
When faced with a career decision—whether it’s taking a new job, joining a team, or starting a new venture—ask:
- Does this align with the life I want to lead?
- Will I be supported in expressing my core values here?
- What value(s) might be compromised if I say yes? Can I live with that?
Saying yes to opportunities that align with your values makes it easier to say no to those that don’t. And in the long run, those no’s are just as powerful as your yes’s.
Success Is Personal. So Let Your Values Define Yours.
You can have the perfect job title, the salary, the prestige—and still feel like something’s missing. That something is often misalignment with your values.
But when you lead with your values, your career begins to take shape around who you really are. You’re no longer moulding yourself to fit into roles—you’re finding or creating roles that fit you.
You’ll feel more energised, more confident, and more at peace—because you’re not just climbing a ladder. You’re climbing the right one.
Final Reflection:
What are the values you refuse to compromise on—and are you honouring them in your career right now?
If not, maybe it’s time to recalibrate. Your values aren’t a liability. They’re your greatest strategic advantage.
#ValuesDrivenLeadership #CareerGrowth #AuthenticityAtWork #WorkThatMatters #CareerClarity #PurposeDrivenSuccess #ProfessionalDevelopment
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