Values represent deep convictions that guide our behavior and form the foundation of our culture, the way we live, work, and communicate. They serve as benchmarks and criteria for how we make decisions. Therefore, they help us make informed choices and live in harmony with our beliefs.

Our values are meant to reflect who we are and how we can live consistently with our beliefs. They contribute to shaping our character and support our mission and vision. What reveals the validity of our values is our attitude in situations where these values conflict with actions.

So, think about it: how do you feel in a situation of crisis, emergency, challenge, or calm? What values are associated with what you are feeling? Indeed, the emotions we experience and the behaviors we display often reflect certain values we hold. Therefore, our values should be clearly articulated, expressing what matters to us in the given situation.

According to Jutras, Marchildon, Legault, and Boisvert in their book “Small manual of ethics applied to public management“ (Montreal, Liber – 2003), values can be classified into four categories: personal values, professional values, organizational values, and societal values.

Although other categories exist, for the purposes of this book, we will focus on personal and professional values. Personal values reflect the beliefs and principles of an individual in their private life, such as loyalty, love, or sharing.

On the other hand, professional values reflect the beliefs of a group of people practicing the same trade or profession. It is essential to ask yourself what your personal and professional values are and whether they can help you support your vision and accomplish your life mission with integrity. To do this, identify key values, preferably using action verbs. For example, instead of saying “mutual aid,” say “to assist…”

Finally, rank them in order of importance for the success of your initiatives. To help you reflect on this, here are LinkedIn’s values: Prioritize members, trust and care, be open, honest, and constructive.

Remember, living in accordance with your values contributes to your well-being and is crucial for effectively influencing your environment. Now, it’s your turn to reflect on your values.

Activity 3.1: Discover Your Dominant Values

Imagine that you are called for an interview or exam at the company of your dreams. To prepare, identify your personal and professional values by answering questions a. to k.:

a. Observe the leaders who inspire you (their behaviors, skills…) and note their values: do these values resonate with you?

b. Think of the moments in your life when you were most satisfied and try to identify the underlying values. Do they resonate with you?

c. Make a comprehensive list of all the values you have identified.

d. Identify at least 3 to 5 values from this list [which you can add to as needed], in line with what is important to you.

e. Write a brief description of each of these values and group those that have a similar meaning for you under the same type of value.

f. Evaluate the importance of these grouped values to you and explain why. If some have the same importance, compare them to identify which prevail in your daily life.

g. Identify redundant personal and professional values to determine if there is a link between them.

h. Are your retained values consistent with your personal choices? Should you reconsider their ranking or prioritization? How can you act more in line with these values? Identify concrete actions to take daily to reflect them.

i. Have you defined your values based on observed or desired behaviors? In what circumstances might you face a value conflict? And will the prioritization of your values help you better manage these conflict situations?

j. If you are an employee or entrepreneur, how important are your company’s values to you?

k. Then, fill out this summary table to clearly and concisely recap your personal and professional values…

This text is an excerpt from the book “DESTINED TO SHINE“ written by Nadia KPONDJO.

We invite you to read the following article, “INVESTING IN EDUCATION.”

FUNDAMENTAL VALUES. FUNDAMENTAL VALUES. FUNDAMENTAL VALUES.