Many organizations define core values that they strive to live by. For example, Toastmasters International, a non-profit educational organization, defines its core values as integrity, respect, service, end excellence. Another organization, the Project Management Institute, has a code of ethics that defines its core values as responsibility, respect, fairness, and honesty.

These are powerful values. An organization upholding these values is an organization we can trust and respect.

What about you? Do you have core values?

Core values are not just for organizations. We too can identify and live by core values in our lives. If we live by the right values, we can be people of character that other people can trust and respect.

What are your core values?

I’d like you to think carefully and to answer the following question: what are you core values? What are the values you live by and that define who you are?

If you know what your core values are, do you live by them? It is one thing to state that you live by a set of core values. It is another thing entirely to actually live by those values.

Once I learned of the core values of Toastmasters International, I adopted them as the core values for my life. I also believe strongly in the core values of the Project Management Institute. I strive to uphold all seven of these values in my life, and I think they are important values that you can strive for as well.

Living your values

Respect is one of my most important core values. This value applies to showing respect to other people and to showing respect for yourself. If you always treat other people with respect, they will be more likely to show you respect in return. If you always treat yourself with respect, you will have a more positive outlook on life.

I also include integrity and honesty as two of my core values. Being a person of integrity includes being an honest person. It also means doing what you say you will do. If you strive to be a person of integrity and you are always honest with other people, then you will be a trustworthy person that other people can rely on.

Responsibility is just as important as integrity, and it is one of my core values. When you live by this value you fulfil the responsibilities that you agree to take on. Being responsible means that other people can learn to count on you to get things done.

Fairness is also important, especially if you are in a leadership position and are managing other people. Not favoring one person over another is a way of treating everyone you interact with fairly and is another way of showing people respect. This is why fairness is one of my core values.

Excellence is another one of my core values. Striving for excellence means you always do your best in everything that you do. This is different from striving for perfection. Perfection is unachievable, while striving to do your best is realistic. If you always work towards excellence in everything you do you will be someone others can count on to do quality work.

Speaking of work, how do you view work? Do you see working for others as something negative? I believe that working for others is not negative. Working for others is providing a service to them, and service is one of my core values.

For example, I don’t just work for a living. I also volunteer at both the club and district levels for my Toastmasters club and district. By providing service through my paid work, I earn a living. By providing service as a volunteer, I enrich my life by using some of my time outside of paid work for meaningful pursuits.

Being of service to other people means I have something meaningful to do with my time outside of work. It makes life more rewarding, and it helps me to learn and grow as a person. Being of service to other people also increases the number of people that I meet and getting to know other people is rewarding in of itself.

Don’t compromise your values

Once you have identified your core values, you should live by them. Don’t do anything in life that violates your values.

For me this means always treating people with respect, no matter how I am feeling. It also means always being honest with other people and living with integrity. It also means that I carry out my responsibilities and that I complete those responsibilities within the time constraints I commit to when I took on those responsibilities. It also means being honest if I fail in one of my responsibilities due to unforeseen circumstances.

Living your core values is not always easy. Circumstances can change and difficult times will crop up in your life. There will be times where you are truly challenged and living by your core values will be a true test of your character.

No matter the circumstances in your life, I challenge you to always live by your values. If you have adopted the right values this will make you a person of integrity that other people can trust, and they will be able to rely on you. You will be a source of strength for other people and you will be a role model for other people to look to.

Conclusion

In conclusion, identifying and living by your core values is crucial, both for organizations and for you as an individual. Toastmasters International lives by the core values of integrity, respect, service, and excellence. The Project Management Institute lives by the core values of responsibility, respect, fairness, and honesty. These are also my core values. I believe in these values, and I live by them.

What about you? What are your core values?