How can you maintain alignment between your personal and organizational values?

I would also suggest that this exercise needs to happen before you join the organization. I often say that leaders should hire for character and values as much as they hire for skills and experiences. However the same can be said about people joining organizations. You should join an organization based on a more comprehensive study of their values and any evidence that you have on their values. Once you've joined a toxic organization, it can be hard to disengage.

I agree that it is important to clarify your own values. Not doing this creates potential to end up down a path you never intended. Having clear values can act as a North Star as you navigate your life. You’ll end up feeling more aligned overall, and will be far more likely to feel satisfaction with your career, relationships, and life as a whole!

A profound experience for me was to work through a values exercise. The list had over 100 values that were each important to me. As I worked through the list, I began to see connections where integrity rose to the top, encompassing the values of accountability, credibility, ethics, honesty, honor, loyalty, and trustworthiness. Optimism was another where I saw a connection to appreciation, charity, compassion, empathy, inclusiveness, love, and thankfulness in the world that gives me comfort that we can be better. Ultimately, faith and family are the ones that I put ahead of all others, as living those values embodies most of the values on the list. The result of the exercise was a clear understanding of what is most important to me.

One always starts by thinking that generally accepted values are also theirs. But once they start thinking about it and going through life moments comparing situations it always amazes me seeing people realize that there are only a handful of values that are leading one's life... especially in my training courses when I talk about leadership this assessment is the very first thing I make the participants do... This is indeed powerful...

In starting an organisation, it's fairly common to see alignment you may have against their published values - published being the key word. I have worked alongside many companies that publish values that portray a far from truthful impression of the in place culture found once you hit the ground. Keeping your own values as the constant and having the ability to understand how much gas is being put back into your own tank is always an important factor. Another conundrum I have experienced, which is out of your control, is when you hold great and meaningful alignment to an organisation's values, and that culture is changed through an acquisition or a merger. It's heart breaking, but again understanding your own values is key.

Choosing your organization may not always be in your hands. Sometimes life leads the way and we just roll with it. But for sure I've seen many people frustrated and unhappy because of misaligned values... Companies should also put effort in checking during recruitment whether or not the candidate is a good fit in the company's culture rather than only checking whether or not these people are technically fit. Something to think about...

Maintaining alignment is not a one-time effort but an ongoing commitment. Even after joining a company that seems to align with your values, it's essential to continuously assess whether the alignment remains intact as the organisation evolves. Staying engaged and vocal about your values within the workplace can contribute to a positive impact on the organisation's culture and policies. It's a two-way street where personal values influence the organisation and vice versa, leading to a more fulfilling and purpose-driven career. In essence, the journey towards aligning personal and organisational values is not just a choice at the outset; it's a dynamic process that requires vigilance and dedication to ensure a harmonious coexistence.

Applying values to decision-making switches the focus from recycling what has been done in the past to a future focus. This level of awareness means connecting to what beliefs are running, which may or may not be true so that you can go deeper to see what is fundamentally the most important value driving your thinking and deciding. Giving voice to situations where there is dissonance between what is said versus what is done, is critical for being true to yourself and acknowledging the feelings that guide choice. Failing to voice your values is a way of repressing yourself, which leads to depression. The key is to recognize what lies underneath the uncomfortable feeling of being incongruent which enables you to choose how you lead yourself.

I like to work with teams in having them create their "ideal workplace". That usually encapsulates the values of each team member and creates a ton of energy. So communicating values doesn't become a one-way road from you to others but a conversation that lifts the energy and engagement of everyone.

I would disagree. I've found that our core values very much remain constant. Some give and takes and changes in priority - but your foundational values should remain the same. So if you feel that you need to change your values: ask yourself whether it is a fear-based response to what might happen if you didn't do that.

I suggest picking a conflict or challenging situation to make it practical. Look at which values are being compromised or prioritized. You'll discover which ones have priority for you in that way. Also, you'll be able to change the conflict by actually speaking about your & the other person's values rather than the "stuff" that seems to be the conflict.

Of the five regrets of the dying one is "wishing the courage to live a life true to myself, rather than conforming to expectations". The second regret listed is "I wish I hadn't worked so hard". I've learned being true to yourself puts you on a collision course with the pressure to conform either to organizational beliefs or to social expectations. We talk about leadership as if it is an expression of conformity. It is not. Maintaining alignment requires a lot of contextual awareness, a routine practice of reflection and zooming out to shift and gain perspective and seeing the situation from different angles. Then you have what you need to live by the hard decisions that keep you in alignment.

I began my business career believing I had to live a different life at work than my personal life based on what I was experiencing. A routine practice at several employers was asking employees to lie to customers when quality issues occurred to avoid negative financial chargebacks. Since I see honesty and taking responsibility for wrongdoing as critical moral values, this was at odds with me. For this reason, if directly asked if we were responsible for the issue, I would tell the truth, putting me at odds with my employer. Begrudgingly, a compromise was to avoid sharing with our customers what I did know. The result was to live in a constant state of stress that led to me pursuing other employment opportunities that matched my values.

I tell my career change clients, "I want you to find a job where you can take your soul to work with you instead of having to leave it by the door on your way out." The most healthy career is one where the company aligns with YOUR personal values, not the other way around.