When you hate your job, then your inner values disagree
Values are our inner compass. When our values are aligned with what we do, we feel happy and motivated. Our gut feeling is encoded with the values and it helps with the tough decisions about a partner, jobs, buying a house or a car.
Without values, we are lost and wander around. The opposite provides clarity and we gain a clear direction.
Unfortunately, so many people don't know what is important to them. They fail to decide according to their values. They feel stressed and their mental health suffers.
Your Values = Your Identity & Your Inner You
When people don't know their values often experience the following:
- Missing motivation and identification for the job
- Look only for fancy positions or titles or money
- "It will all be over - I need patience" attitude
- Stick with a toxic manager or team
But what are values? It is not that what is right or wrong. It is what matters to you - your inner compass:
You are an overperformer but the company doesn't support you? You have an idea on process improvement but you're told 'We've always done it this way'? A sales who wants to sell, but not the crappy products.
This incompatibility of values leads to frustration. You can't look in the mirror.
It's even worse: Most stressed people who even get mentally sick have an inner conflict because of their values.
The solution is:
- Find your values
- Decide along with the values
- Get fulfillment and motivation
Choose your values from this list
Take this list of values and mark the three most important ones for you:
- Achievement
- Adventure
- Autonomy
- Balance
- Challenge
- Collaboration
- Commitment
- Communication
- Competence
- Creativity
- Dependability
- Diversity
- Efficiency
- Empathy
- Excellence
- Fairness
- Flexibility
- Growth
- Honesty
- Influence
- Innovation
- Integrity
- Learning
- Loyalty
- Mentorship
- Open-mindedness
- Passion
- Perseverance
- Professionalism
- Recognition
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Security
- Service
- Sustainability
- Teamwork
- Transparency
- Trust
- Work-life harmony
- Wisdom
EXAMPLE: Let's assume you picked: Competence, Integrity, and Respect. You want a raise and you talk to your manager and they say: "Let me see what I can do. I come back to you."
Now two weeks later you heard nothing. Of course, you can ask but two values are broken Integrity and Respect. Your manager doesn't walk the talk.
This leads to frustration and disappointment. The harsh truth: Get a new job.
How to avoid this?
We could have figured it out on the job interview or even when screening the job offer. These questions can guide you:
- What is the purpose/mission of the company?
- What is the focus of the team/manager?
- How do they measure success?
Note: There is no universal value scale as it is something we all have to define for ourselves.
Values drive your performance
Steve Jobs was a high performer: He founded Apple, NeXt and bought Pixar. He was driven by the values that he was different and innovative.
Once you have a job aligned with your values your performance will grow over time. Even better is when your values are stimulated - you overperform. How? Apple wants the employees to be proud to sell and recommend products to family and friends. Yes, well I know it's Apple and we can't all work there.
Imagine you are a seller and purpose is important to you. And imagine your product has the effect that the more you sell, the more kids in Africa get a meal or school education.
Whom wouldn't this motivate?
The Career Playbook Rule
Values pave the road to happiness and performance. Take care of your mental health.
Resources:
[1] Managing Oneself, Peter F. Drucker
[2] Video "Steve Jobs: We don't ship junk" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAo8gnUCWzE