Know Your Core Values for Job Satisfaction - FlexJobs

Know Your Core Values for Job Satisfaction - FlexJobs Know Your Core Values for Job Satisfaction 18www.marblearchinc.com. Core values are the critical ideas and codes by which you live your life, both at work and at home, and they play a large role in your overall job satisfaction. When a conflict occurs between your core values and the values you’re being asked to assume, the symptoms can be a feeling of dread when heading to work, a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach or even a sense that no matter how hard you work, you won’t ever really be at peak performance. My first experience of core-values based conflict sticks out strongly as a life lesson. My sophomore year of college I was hired as a reservationist for a local resort. I started and ended each shift with a smile as I helped families plan their vacations. The resort offered regular stays, as well as timeshare opportunities. Helping families plan a weekend at the beach was aligned with my values of supporting others through my work and showing appreciation for their patronage. I did very well in my role and was soon offered a new position, with the potential for much higher compensation. The new role was a blend of concierge, and timeshare presentation salesperson. Essentially, I would help guests book their dinner reservations, arrange day trips, even order anniversary flowers. I was expected, however, to also sell them on the idea of a 90 minute timeshare presentation, for which I was awarded commission. The first part of the job was a natural fit for me, the second led to nausea and stress for months. One of my core values is sustainability. I define sustainability as living a lifestyle that can be supported long-term without the overuse of resources such as money, products or relationships. I knew enough about timeshare to know that for some, it’s a wonderful bargain. For others, it becomes a financial trap and annual burden. I saw this too often to feel good about selling the tours, and yet I kept at it. I relished in planning a special anniversary dinner, but struggled with the constant goal of booking more presentations. It just wasn’t in line with my core values. Peak performance can only occur when your mind and heart are fully engaged in your work. My mind knew how to market the timeshare presentations, but my heart wasn’t in it. Since then, I have also experienced this conflict within other organizations I have been a part of. I now recognize that when I am in regular conflict with other leaders, or I dread voicing an opinion, I am not in an environment conducive to my peak performance. It’s time for me to identify the environment where I can be most impactful and most supportive. Core values create a filter for decision-making, a vocabulary for collaboration and are often a reflection of the creator’s passion and purpose. Each of these aspects combine to make core values a critical component of high performance. Understanding core values for job satisfaction: How can creating a list of Core Values impact you today? Creating a set of core values for an individual, an organization or a marriage builds a foundation upon which to communicate and connect. My husband and I have a set of core values for our marriage, which are the same for our company. When we experience conflict in our lives, we immediately go to our list of values on the fridge and identify which one we are out of sync with. Prevent conflict in your career by filtering out those organizations whose core values don’t match your own. Imagine you are interviewing with four different companies for a new position, how do you know which company will spark your fire? If you value change and innovation and the company you are considering joining values tradition, you may find yourself in a situation fraught with anxiety in just a few months. A misalignment of your values with those of your organization can be a difficult challenge to overcome. That misalignment is what’s behind the desire to run screaming from your desk every afternoon by 3:00. Knowing your values up-front can spare you from this anxiety and help further your career by filtering out the wrong jobs, leaving you to focus on the right ones. Core values bring a team together. Consider the discord within an organization that has no defined core values. Suddenly, individual core values are all competing rather than aligning. Many managers will place their own success and monetary gain first because there isn’t a larger vision to work for. And often, sales teams butt heads due to differing values of long-term customer service versus short-term financial objectives. Start your core values list right now by writing a dozen or so words that truly resonate with who you are and who you want to be. Next, filter the list to the five most powerful words and add definitions. Finally, begin to leverage this list towards your peak performance in your career and relationships. I’ve shown you mine, now you show me yours. What is one core value you couldn’t work without?