Are your values due for a review?

As a Coach, I find myself talking about VALUES more often than you'd think. For organizations, they serve as a foundation for branding and help define how employees should carry themselves. For individuals, our values act as a personal compass—a guiding star to help us stay grounded as everything else around us shifts and changes.

But here’s the thing—what if I told you your values might be long overdue for a refresh?

Personal values, unless actively revisited, often aren’t as personal as we think. The values we carry with us into adulthood were likely shaped by rules we adopted as children. By the age of 7, you had already absorbed core beliefs from your parents (or other influential adults), and added your own as you navigated the confusing world of adolescence and relationships.

Now, let’s get real—are you still the same person you were at 7 or 17? Probably not. So why let those outdated principles, formed when you were still figuring out how to navigate the world, continue to steer your adult life?

For organizations, sticking to the same set of values, whether by design or neglect, can limit growth and adaptability. The world changed a lot in the past few years—COVID redefined how we work, how we interact, and how we view systems in general. If your company hasn’t taken the time to revisit and reframe its values, mission, and vision in the last six months, there’s a good chance they’re no longer relevant.

At their core, values are beliefs. You can call them philosophies, attitudes, or even dogma—but they all boil down to thoughts. And if thoughts are meant to evolve as we grow, it begs the question: Whose thoughts are running my life?

An invitation to reflect:

• What are your core 10, 5, or 3 values?

• Do you know your partner’s, your colleagues’, or your workplace’s values?

• How have your values— or the values of others— helped or hindered your growth?

• When was the last time you consciously made a values-based decision at work or at home?

• Which of your [outdated?] values have you passed on to others?

My own core values are Curiosity, Creativity, and Connection. They’re the reason:

• I take risks and thrive in uncertainty

• I naturally step into leadership

• I mobilise people and ideas

• I motivate and inspire others

These values are why I’ve always gravitated toward work that involves curiosity, creativity, and building community.

So, let me ask you again - are your thoughts, beliefs, and values due for a review?

Happy exploring!