Living in accordance with your values

When talking to our clients about personal values within a coaching session, it can be helpful to explain we are not using the term in the same way as it is often used in the media.

Within the media it is normally used to describe a specific type of family, morality, lifestyle or culture. Within coaching, the meaning of Value (although it can also include these elements) can be much broader, because it encompasses the personal values that are specific to an individual, which don’t necessarily always include society’s values.

For some it can seem a little selfish to refocus their whole life on deep-rooted values, but not if their number one value helps them find their one true purpose in life. So if you are asked to help somebody establish a set of value based goals, it can really help them realize a sense of personal achievement.

Benefits of somebody focusing on their values

It’s easier for them to identify their goals and achieve them more quickly
Their life goal will become clearer
They will be less distracted, so their life will be simpler and more fulfilling

Coaching Values

Whilst helping somebody get what they want will make them happy, helping them to unlock the insight needed to understand and satisfy their needs is the key. If they are able to learn how to live according to their values, they will have a genuine sense of self-actualization and fulfilment. However, self-actualization is more than just short term joy or satisfaction, but a lasting feeling of being completely oneself.

By using a simple step by step process within your coaching sessions, you can help somebody identify both their professional and personal values. Then the list can cut down and prioritized, so they can work through a range of different questions to better understand what is getting in the way of achieving each value. With your help, your clients can uncover the actions they need to take to recalibrate their whole life around a set of 5 key values.

Key considerations when coaching values

Our values are worth discovering
Our values are the only solid basis we can build our goals on
We are our values
Values bring us lasting fulfilment, whilst desires merely bring short term gratification
Values are like a tortoise’s head: they only come out when it’s safe

Tip: Selecting values based on honesty and openness is an essential step in order to make sure you client is always working from a solid base. If you plan to coach values, it is important to stress to your client that their values should be chosen regardless of what anyone (including you) will think of them.

Living in accordance with your values