Working in Alignment with Your Values

Our values guide our choices every day. From the small stuff like how to spend an afternoon to the biggest decisions of our lives, values play an important role in leading a fulfilling life. So, what are they?

Values are the root beliefs that guide action. If goals are where you’re headed, then values help you determine how to get there. Most of us can name at least a couple values that we hold dear, but fully integrating them into our livelihoods with intention has the potential to bring much deeper meaning and purpose to our work. So let’s explore why it’s important to practice our values at work, where to look to discover a company’s values, and how to determine whether your values are in alignment with theirs.

Defining Your Values with Intention

Have you pinpointed your core values? Are you applying them to your work every day? To activate your values in your work, you’ll first need to take the time to identify and clarify them. Check out Handprint’s workbook to get started. Remember that your values can change over time, so even if you have a clear idea of what they are, it’s still a great idea to reevaluate and recalibrate every few years.

Why Work in Alignment with Your Values?

Companies, like individuals, have core values — often referred to as guiding principles — and collectively, they are one of the biggest drivers of company culture. When your personal core values align with your company’s, you’re not only more likely to enjoy what you do, you’ll be more successful in your work. And the opposite is also true. If you feel a disconnect between your values and those of your company, it's hard to be motivated to do your best. We spend so much time at work that misalignment can easily lead to disengagement or burnout. Taking the time to carefully consider how your values align with the company you work for, or a potential employer, is essential for finding enthusiasm, engagement, and purpose in what you do.

Finding a Company’s Values

Many companies list their values right on their website. Zingerman’s is a great example. Not only do they name their guiding principles clearly, but they describe how they show up in every aspect of their organization. So helpful! 

For other companies, though, you’ll have to do a little more digging. Here are a few ideas of where to look to identify a company’s values:

Their website - Look through the company’s “about us” section. Consider what they choose to say about themselves as a company and how they tell their story. Also be sure to look for mission and vision statements - if you care about a company’s purpose and why they do what they do, that’s a good sign. Their career page might have employee testimonials with more insight, and the job listings themselves can tell you a lot about how the company operates.

Keep an eye out for what’s missing. Are you not seeing information about the things that matter most to you? For example, maybe they don’t state pay scale on their job listings — if transparency is important to you, there might be a misalignment of values there.

Media coverage - Outside perspectives are extremely helpful for better understanding a company. What kind of press coverage is this company getting? Who is the source of the information, and what does that tell you? Dan Price, CEO of Gravity Payments, is getting a lot of media attention for his outspoken views on compensation equity. If one of your values is fairness, this would be a good indication that the company could be the right fit for you.

Informational interviews - No one knows more about a company than the people who work there. If you’re curious, seek out employees or hiring managers and ask how their company practices its values. Be specific in your inquiry, and focus on the areas that are most important to you. For example, you might ask how the company’s values are reflected by the leadership team, or how they are used in decision-making.

Informational interviews are not only for evaluating prospective employers. If you want more clarity about your own company, reach out to your team members and coworkers from other departments. 

Their financials - Not all companies make their financial statements public. But if you can access them, review their income statement to determine how much of their money is going to the things they say they care about.

If you can’t find enough information to discern a company’s values, it’s an indication that they haven’t made positive commitments outside of making a profit. Even a lack of information is an important tool for decision making — what a company doesn’t say can be just as revealing as what they do.

Is There Really Alignment Between Me & This Company? 

If you’re looking for a new job, one way to see if a company might be a good fit is to compare your personal core values with the company’s guiding principles. While the precise wording might not be identical, what you’re hoping to see is some overlap and symmetry. As you review job postings for responsibilities and tasks, keep an eye out for any language or clues that might be indicative of character. What does the position description say about the company and how they operate? There’s likely important information about values embedded there too.

When you get to an interview, it’s another great opportunity to ask for detailed information. Ask about how company values guide decisions, priorities, and actions within the organization. There is a lot of information available at every stage of a job search; the more you investigate and ask questions up front, the more confident you can be in your assessment of values alignment and deciding whether or not to accept the job.

If you’re already employed, aligning your work with your values doesn’t have to result in looking for a new job. Clarifying your personal core values, considering how they relate to your current role, and identifying ways to improve alignment has the potential to make your work more meaningful.

Or perhaps you love your organization but not your job. Exploring what’s most important to you and discussing with managers and coworkers may lead to an understanding that a different position or department would be a better fit. There are many possibilities to find value alignment in an existing role, so get creative, speak candidly, and consider all your options.

Letting Values Guide Your Path

At the end of the day, your personal core values reflect what's uniquely important to you in life. What’s right for you won’t look the same as what’s right for anyone else. So remember to use your values to make decisions with intention, and take action to better align your work with your values. If your current job doesn’t provide you with an opportunity for deeper meaning and fulfillment, keep looking! You’ll find a company, non-profit, cooperative, government institution, or foundation that fits. And if not, maybe you’ll be the person to start the next great venture… letting your values lead the way.