How Clear Are Your Values?

Which of your values are you willing to break, and which of your values are truly firm?

Haven't you known an organization (maybe you even worked for one!) that espoused really terrific values but then acted each day as if those values didn't even exist?

Setting values is not an exercise for decoration. Establishing values that sound nice is not an activity you forget about or simply post somewhere, perhaps on a plaque in the lobby. Values are more than that.

Values should be the conditions you intentionally live by.

A value that you are willing to break is no value at all.

What are your core values?

Which of your values are so firm that you'd never break them -- no matter what?

Spend some time considering your values today and to what extent you rely on them as your standards of behavior. Getting clear on your values helps your decision making, your performance, and your reputation. Clarity of where you stand means that people may disagree with you but they will never miss you: they will know who you are what you value. Stand by your values, or honestly change them so that you can.

Because a value that you are willing to break is no value at all.

-- Douglas Brent Smith

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