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What drives you as an educator? What influences your decision-making? Why do you do what you do?
Having a clear set of core values can help you in the best of times and the worst of times (yes, that is a reference to Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities!). They can bring comfort when you doubt yourself and embolden you as you embark on a new endeavor.
This past month, I was teetering on a few ideas for our faculty meeting. I do not use faculty meetings as a forum for information dissemination which can be done in an email. I make faculty meetings mini-professional learning sessions because one of my core values is to empower those I work with and for.
However, this past month, I could feel the exhaustion emanating from everyone. So, I decided to do something that aligns with another one of my core values - community. For me, community means fostering a positive culture through care, concern, respect, and relationships. Instead of trying to add on another professional learning session, I thought it would be best if we paused to hone in on this value.
Morning meeting style, we sat in a circle. I kicked off the meeting with a warm welcome from me and then had staff do the same with each other. I also decided to spice things up and had them sit in a predetermined seat. People generally stick together and sit together, so to foster community, I counteracted this.
After the welcome and a few general announcements, we got to the heart of the meeting. We all placed a personal fact, something someone might not know about us, in a bucket. Then, it was up to everyone to determine whose fact I pulled from the bucket.
After five guesses, if no one got it, the fact writer would get some candy. Those individuals who were able to guess correctly also got candy. We spent the morning laughing and connecting… which was exactly what I hoped for as I stayed true to one of my core values.
By the end of this post, you’ll learn why having clearly articulated core values is essential for any leader/educator. I will then provide some strategies on how to develop those core values and what to do with them.
What are Core Values and Why Do They Matter?
Let’s begin by first breaking down what “core” and “values” mean. While core can be a reference to those tight abs (we all want a 6-pack or an 8-pack like Lego Batman), for our purposes, we’ll use another definition. Core “refers to the central or most important part of something.” So, it is all about the item or idea you can not go without.
Now, the word values has a cornucopia of definitions (thank you English). But the one that we’ll be using is, “something (such as a principle or quality) intrinsically valuable or desirable.” Don't you love it when they use the word you are trying to define in the definition? This never made sense to me. Anyway, values are those principles that we hold dear.
Put this together and you’ve got core values, or the central principles that guide you daily. Personal values essentially represent not only who you are, but also who you want to be. When you have a strong set of core values, you can lean into these values to help make decisions and plan forward.
When you stay committed to your core values, you’ll be able to sleep at night because you’ll know you adhered to your belief set.
You can also develop trust and your relationships with others because they will see how you do not waver and do as you purport.
Finally, core values can give you a confidence boost because you will know what you want and what truly matters. You won’t be swaying in the wind like a reed. You’ll be a stalwart oak ready to take on any storm that comes your way. You'll need this when faced with conflicting interests from stakeholders.
Crafting and Committing to Core Values in 5 Steps
There are two ways you can develop your core values. You can go through the 5-step process I laid out below or you can throw a bunch of words in the air and see which ones land closest to you. If it were only that easy! 😉
Creating your core values takes time and a lot of reflection, so ease into the first few steps. Once you complete each step, you should take time away from what you jotted down and reflect. Give yourself some breathing room and revisit your thoughts. This can help bring clarity to what you’re doing.
If you’re ready to get started, do the following:
1. Decide on your core values
You have to start somewhere, and that somewhere is trying to determine your core values. My core values developed over a few years as I dabbled in the interview process, trying to advance my career.
I found it invaluable to have some clarity around my core values throughout each interview. I wanted to stay focused through this grueling and nerve-wracking process while also staying true to who I am.
Some experienced leaders like Brene Brown have a process for core value development. I like her approach and starting list of values, but the process below from Indeed.com can help those who may need more guidance. Indeed suggests the following:
Review a list of core values and pick the ones that resonate with you.
Consider the individuals you admire and why.
Reflect on your personal experiences, the bright moments and the painful ones.
Group your values into categories (kind of like coding).
Determine common themes.
Considering the common themes, choose your values from a list or use the words that come organically from your themes (like grounded theory).
I wish I had stumbled across the process above which would have made landing on my core values so much easier. The final point I want to mention is that you should have between 2-5 core values.
I heard somewhere that three is the magic number because of the “power of three.” But to be frank, pick the ones that capture what you believe. Don’t feel compelled to add more or take some away just because you didn’t hit three.
2. Generate clear descriptions
Once you have those values, it’s now time to define each one. Defining your values can bring you clarity as to what they mean to you. Solidifying what each value means can also help reinforce your values.
Ensure that the definitions are not canned and come from a Google definition or Merriam-Webster. Write these definitions using your own words and voice to strengthen your connection to them. When you feel like you need a boost or a reminder about what you stand for, reading these descriptions can do the trick.
3. Share your values
Now that you have your values and the definitions, it’s time to shout ‘em out to the world! Begin sharing your values with stakeholders. When I first started my current position, I made sure I published my values in various locations.
When I held my first listen-and-learn with staff during the summer, I reviewed a brief slide deck about who I am and included my core values. I explained each one to the staff so they knew what mattered most to me. With parents, I incorporated an “About Dr. Forrest” section into our newsletter. And what did I have there? My core values!
Be clear and consistent with your core value communication. People must know who you are and what you stand for.
4. Remind yourself
I don’t know about you, but sometimes, I need a reminder about my core values especially when faced with a difficult decision or an emotionally charged situation. What better way to have a reminder than to have your values right there?
Make a Canva or write them on Post-it notes or an index card. Just make sure that you see your values every day and are reminded of what you said you stand for. This reminder can help you triumph over adversity and make the best decision.
5. Let your values be your guide
I credit the Blue Fairy and little Jiminy Cricket with this last step. Let your values (or conscience) be your guide. When you are faced with those tough decisions, stick to your values so that you can go home at night and sleep.
Even if your decision isn’t the most popular or you get your hand slapped, do not sacrifice your values for favor or to make things easier. You will regret it.
And, if people get wind of your noncommittal attitude to your values, their trust in you will waver and eventually erode. Remember, you’re a powerful oak and not a reed. Stand your ground and reflect on each decision to ensure it aligns with your core values.
One Last Thought
As we all sat in a circle last week, laughing and joking about some of the crazy personal facts people shared, I could feel us getting closer. Feel us connecting. Feel us forging relationships with one another. Feel us building community.
Later that day, I got texts, emails, and verbal feedback from countless staff that our meeting was just what they needed. Hearing that feedback solidified my decision to focus on community.
And I hope that decision pays dividends as my time since then has been emotionally challenging as I’ve navigated difficult decision after difficult decision. What I had to do in each moment was pause and reflect and ask myself, “Does this decision align with my core values?”
That is the singular question you must constantly ask yourself. So forge ahead and tie your decisions to the core values that frame your being.
References
Brown, B. (2018). Dare to lead: Brave work. Tough conversations. Whole hearts. Random house.
Core. (n.d.) In Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/core#:~:text=Core%20can%20be%20a%20noun,%E2%80%9Can%20apple%20core%E2%80%9D).
Indeed Editorial Team. (2024, February 12). 6 steps to discover your core values. Indeed.com. Retrieved March 23, 2024, from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/discover-core-values
Mind Tools Content Team (2023) What are your values?. MindTools. Retrieved March 23, 2024 from https://www.mindtools.com/a5eygum/what-are-your-values
Values. (n.d.) In Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/values
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