Defining your core values

This past year, HerChesapeake has explored what it means to find and pursue your passion. We’ve heard from some amazing guest speakers about how they found their way into their fields and overcame obstacles along the way - and what continues to drive them forward. We’ve talked about how it’s not always easy to articulate your passion or find a clear direction of where you want to go all the time. And, frankly, in a time of so much bad news coming from so many directions, when we have so much to take action for, charting our course for the future can feel pretty murky.

The organization I work for is approaching a new strategic planning period, so we’ve been having a lot of discussions as a team about our “why” - why do we do what we do, both personally and as an organization? What are the core values that define who we are and guide everything we do, personally and professionally? Taking the time to think this through is crucial for organizations to build a strong team culture. And for individuals, defining our core values helps us grow as leaders and serves as an important guide as we navigate challenging times and changes in our lives and careers.

There are a variety of values exercises out there, but one I’ve found to be helpful is from researcher Brene Brown, based on her book Dare to Lead. You start off with a very long list of different values that may speak to you, but your task is to whittle those down to just a few that are most important and can encompass what you hold most dear. For those in the environmental field, some of those core values might be things like stewardship, giving back to the community, helping the planet for future generations. But they also don’t have to be job-specific at all. Things like integrity, growth, family, justice, courage - these are values that many people across sectors share and guide how we live our lives and do our work. 

It’s not easy in that exercise to drill down to just two or three core values, but taking the time to look inward and discover what truly drives us is necessary to make sure our actions align with our values. And when our actions align with our values, we can more confidently live out our passions and become better leaders. 

What are your core values? What’s your “why?” Tell us in the comments below!