So much is changing in a relatively short period of time and it feels unsettling.
I just saw a memory on Facebook that I posted eight years ago and realized that in that time I have moved three times in two different states, people in my orbit have passed away, and nieces and nephews have all transitioned into adulthood. So much has changed!
And when the people and things we hold most dear to us change, our world can feel as though it’s completely unraveling.
What we thought we valued as most important may not be most important at all.
This got me thinking about how dynamic our values are. With time or experience, the hierarchy of our values may shift as a result of:
- New knowledge
- Social values and attitudes
- Personal experience
That’s not just something I made up. In fact a 2015 study by researchers Valdiney V. Gouveia, Kátia C. Vione, Taciano L. Milfont, Ronald Fischer found that regardless of gender, values substantially change throughout our life span.
Why Shifting Values Matter
When we don’t pay attention to how our behaviors align with our values, we unintentionally harm others – and ourselves.
Relationships and teams flourish when trust is present. When there’s misalignment between what we value and what we do, well, we open the door for others to perceive us as inauthentic, manipulative, fake or even a hypocrite. The antithesis of trust.
And we get frustrated with ourselves when we know there is a misalignment of our values and our work.
You see, your values are the underlying foundation of your inspiration, vision, and motivation. They help you set a course to what you believe truly matters; they guide you to purpose and fulfillment.
Understanding when and how your values shift enables you to make adjustments so that you’re leading from the strength of who you are.
Change causes so much churn it’s difficult to see and hear ourselves clearly; to know what we truly value and lead in the most authentic way.
Have you noticed your values changing recently? How do you reflect that change to your team?
