Understanding Your Values
PART 1 IDENTIFY YOUR VALUES & GROUPS OF INFLUENCE
In the table below, each row represents a group (past or present) that has influenced your values. Select five of these groups and list them in the first column of the table.
For each of the groups, identify the following:
Three (3) positive behaviors that were learned and/or encouraged by the group. For example your teacher would always expect that you were on time or that you were assertive during class presentations.
Three (3) values that you learned from the group. For example someone could have learned from a church group to be compassionate or to speak up when one sees injustices.
Choose your values from the list provided in the Your Values Matter table. Scroll to the end of this assignment to find this table.
GROUP NAME 3 POSITIVE BEHAVIORS 3 VALUES LEARNED
(choose from the Your Values Matter table below)
(Type Group 1 here)
(Type Group 2 here)
(Type Group 3 here)
(Type Group 4 here)
(Type Group 5 here)
PART 2: RANK YOUR VALUES
How important is each value in your life? Using the “Understanding Your Values” table, choose 10 of your values and put each value in priority order – #1 matters most, #10 matters least.
In the article How to Live With Purpose, Identify Your Values and Improve Your Leadership, author Ann Loehr explains how your values give you a sense of purpose. The exercise below will help you focus on those values. Please complete the following in the table below:
List the values according to what matters most to you.
Provide a brief definition of what that values means to you in your own words.
Write a short sentence about the meaning of each value in the “why does this matter to me” column.
VALUES
(most important to least important) DEFINITION
(what does it mean to you?) WHY?
(why does this value matter to you?)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
PART 3: UNDERSTANDING YOUR VALUES AND INFLUENCE
Now, review both tables. Write a reflection on how you think the groups in your life have helped you define your own values. Be sure to reference the material from class to support your response. What can you conclude?
Be sure to address the following:
How has this activity provided insight into the effect your groups of influence have on your personal values? Were you aware of the relationship between the two before doing this activity? Were you surprised by the amount of influence each group has? Explain why or why not.
Why is self-awareness so important in the journey to finding your purpose?
How did you determine your top three (3) values overall? Was it difficult to narrow it down? Explain your reasoning.
