How to Uncover your Career Values
You know that feeling when work is no longer working, but it's hard to put your finger on what it is exactly that is causing you to feel so dissatisfied, unfulfilled and frustrated in your professional life?
I can recall a few jobs over the years where I've dreaded that Monday morning feeling; not wanting to be there and just having that sick sense deep in the pit of my stomach. Often, this is exactly how my clients feel at the start of their career change journey. It's a strong indicator that something's not right and it's likely it's down to the fact that they feel unable to express their values in their job role or in the organisation they work for. Essentially, they're unable to express the very essence of who they are and what's important to them.
It took me a while to realise that autonomy, challenge and making a difference to others are all really important factors to me in my work. Of course, it explains why the historic job roles in which I felt micro-managed, unstimulated and unable to have a greater impact were amongst the most frustrating and dissatisfying in my career to date. It comes as no surprise to me, now, that I love working for myself, doing work that really makes a difference in people's lives and that requires me to constantly be learning, growing and stretching myself.
Knowing your values (or your 'career DNA') is the first step to getting really clear on your goals and priorities and is part of that foundational work I described in one of my earlier blogs when I work with my clients and lead them through the career change process. It's also one of the best ways to ensure the path you're on is the right one for you.
By identifying your goals and getting real clarity on who you are and what's important to you, you can begin to take those first few important steps towards finding a career that's much more energising, fulfilling and aligned to your own version of success.
Do you know what your values are and what they might be telling you about your current situation? Have you stopped to explore to what extent your current career expresses your core values?
As an initial starting point, I’d suggest the following activities to help you begin to identify your values to help you pinpoint your next steps.
1. Reflect on your job roles to date and the decisions that led you to make those particular career choices. What do you notice? What are some of the common themes? Was it a need for financial stability or perhaps a desire to progress? This might indicate that security or learning and development are some of your core values.
2. Scan a list of values and circle those which jump out to you and immediately resonate. Again, you might spot some consistencies. For example, if things like ‘helping others, serving, being productive’ crop up time and time again, it could indicate one of your values is around achievement or being fulfilled by helping others.
3. Filter your big list down to your top 5 and place them in order of priority
4. Take a look at Edgar Schien's Career Anchors diagram to determine which of the 8 categories most aligns with you. Are there some overlapping themes beginning to emerge across these exercises?
5. Assess to what extent those values are currently expressed in your work. What needs to change?
When you are really clear on your core values and can assess to what extent they are expressed in your work, this will help you to determine whether it's time for a change. Consider how these values impact your career goals.
If you’d like more help to uncover your values, I cover this in-depth within my coaching programmes. I can also offer a stand-alone session on values elicitation, so you go away with a clear list of your own values to help inform your career choices and next steps. Get in touch if you’d like to find out more: claire@clairebrown.co
