The value of values

Sometimes I just want to pack it all in and make blankets for a living.

As I sit here in the evening soothed by the steady movement of the crochet hook and soft yarn in my hands, I ponder what it would be like to be able to do this all the time. It’s not just the reliable repetition of the process that I like, it’s also looking down every so often in wonder to see what I’m creating. I did that? Wow.

I started to teach myself how to crochet about 5 years ago, mainly to reduce my phone use in the evenings. It was great for that, but I soon realised that it was the sense of craft that really got me hooked.? I could learn ever more intricate stitches and produce lovely things. Magic. And when I don’t have a project going I feel a bit bereft.

So ‘Craft’ is one the words I settled on when thinking about my core values. What are the things that guide me when I make big decisions? When I feel frustrated or out of kilter what’s often missing? I’m energised when I’m learning new things and putting my skills to the test. I’m driven to practice and become expert in whatever craft I’m immersed in, exploring it in all it’s intricacies and techniques – in the past it was how to be a civil servant, then how to lead people and now how to coach. The idea of apprenticeship helps me think about both who I’m learning from and how I’m handing on my craft too. ?And I’ve always wanted to see the products of my work in the world, whether that’s the blanket wrapped around my friend’s new baby, or hearing that someone I’m working with is achieving the change they want in their life.

Now that I think about it, craft also represents love and family to me – my parents were craftspeople, designing and making beautiful handbags. My childhood summers were often spent on the factory floor, building things out of boxes and scraps of leather.

But why bother to reflect on this at all? Because understanding your core values can help you navigate work (and life) better. Knowing what inspires and energises you can guide you in making happier and more sustainable career choices. And when you find yourself mysteriously out of alignment, this understanding can help you see why and, more importantly, can light the way to doing something about it.

There are loads of different ways to get into this – Brené Brown’s values list is one (top tip: try to get your core values list down to just two. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to do that), another tool I like are the co-active coaching values worksheets that help you take a systematic look at where you values are and aren’t being honoured in your day to day life.

My two core values are Craft and Courage and they certainly help me publish things here every week...

What are yours?