Are you true to your values today? Are you living your best life accordingly?
At some time in our life, most of us feel the need to assess our values: what is truly important to us. Unfortunately, we often avoid this task; it’s much easier to keep doing what we’re doing. But then something happens that jolts us out of our complacency.
It could be the loss of something (a promotion or position), or someone (a loved one, or respect of a colleague). Or, a more minor event that illuminated something was just not right. I wrote about these, here.
As I share with my coaching clients, understanding what really motivates or drives a person is a crucial part of success. It’s time to examine your values.
Examine Your Current Values
Based on their research of psychology and the model of human value, motivation, and drive created by Dr. Spranger, Drs. Allport, Vernon, and Lindzey created an instrument to measure value hierarchy.
The most current version (IMX Values Index, or VI profile) has been updated with seven dimensions:
- Aesthetic: Each experience is judged from the standpoint of grace, symmetry, or fit. Contrary to the theoretical dimension, life is seen as a procession of events; each enjoyed for its own sake. Chief interest is in the beauty of life.
- Altruistic: prizes other persons as ends, and is therefore kind, sympathetic, and unselfish. Contrary to the political dimension, love is itself the only suitable form of human relationship.
- Economic: interested in what is useful and practical; focused on security and bottom-line results. In some instances he may have regard for the regulatory dimension, but frequently conflicts with other values.
- Individualistic: seeks to express uniqueness and be granted freedom over actions. Contrary to the political dimension, seeks neither power nor control of others or the environment in general, but rails against subjugation by any external force.
- Political: interested primarily in power and control, whatever the vocation, and is the most universal and most fundamental of motives. Prizes personal power, influence, and renown.
- Regulatory: seeks unity. Often described as mystical, yet directed towards achieving structure, order and to be one with they system.
- Theoretical: interested in the discovery of truth. Divests itself of judgments regarding the beauty or utility of objects, and seeks only to observe, reason, understand and systematize knowledge.
Rate Your Values
The two highest dimensions are the most inspirational. The middle three are situational: in certain circumstances they might be a factor. The two lowest scoring dimensions are actually de-motivational, and important to note.
A qualified executive coach can help you rate the seven dimensions, and identify the 21 combinations that influence interests and drive behavior. For example: if you score high for the altruistic dimension, but are average in the economic dimension, you may be inclined to give away your expertise or products, or even compromise on your salary requirements. Knowing this about yourself can help you plan how and when to say “yes.”
And, this is just one example. Identifying your values today will help you understand what drives you, what motivates you, and what inspires you. It will help you become more effective in everything you do.
What do you think? What are your values today? Are you living your best life accordingly? I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can call me at 561-582-6060, let’s talk. And as always, I can be reached here, or on LinkedIn.
