Using Core Values to Make Decisions With Speed, Ease, and Confidence

July 6, 2011 by Jennifer Bourn | 12 Comments

Use your values to make decisions in businessEvery successful business has values.

Values are the standards of behavior in a business. They are the operating principles that guide the business.

Some businesses look at values definition as a simple exercise to complete and get through — for these businesses, their values statement is just an empty, meaningless statement.

But other businesses, the truly successful businesses look at values definition as a core requirement to define their brand. For these businesses, their values are meaningful and the are infused throughout the entire business and live by them each day.

Your values represent what you stand for and what you believe is most important. They can’t be defined based on what others think they should be, or what you think they SHOULD be — they need to come from your heart and from the heart of your business.

Values are definite truths that are the driving forces behind action, the instincts that influence choice, and the guiding lights on the path you are walking.

Taking the time to define your top values will help you make faster decisions with more ease and confidence because you’ll know that the decisions you make are in alignment with the values you stand for.

Once clearly defined, you can use your values and the values of your business (they may be the same) to:

  • Enhance your self awareness
  • Evaluate decisions
  • Assess opportunities
  • Review and joint venture partnership ideas

All you need to do is ask yourself, “Is this in alignment with my values? Would I be in integrity with what I stand for if I say yes?”

If your decisions are not in alignment with your values, your clients, prospects, and partners can tell — they will feel that something is off, or not quite right — and it will impact your success.

Do you know your top five core values?

Mine values are: Freedom, Integrity, Creativity, Relationships, and Independence

If you don’t know what your top five values are off the top of your head, if they aren’t so ingrained in you that you can’t answer the question right away, I highly recommend you spend some time thinking about what is most important to you and then work on infusing those values into your everyday life and business.

FILED UNDER: Brand Design & Brand Strategy, Business & Entrepreneurship, Client Attraction
TAGGED WITH: , , ,
  • Want to use this article in your newsletter or on your website or blog?
    No problem! Simply include the citation and link below at the end of the article!

    About the Authors: Jennifer and Brian Bourn owners of Bourn Creative, a Sacramento web design company, help established businesses build beautiful, feature-rich, custom WordPress websites and blogs, design powerful, personal brands, and help their clients learn to leverage their website and blog to attract more clients than they ever thought possible.


    • Subscribe By Email!

    If you think this article is awesome, you should subscribe to our blog and can get our articles delivered to your inbox! Enter your email below to subscribe!

    Feedback and Comments:

    1. Meredith Liepelt

      Jul 11, 2011 at 12:52

      Very well said Jennifer, as usual. I find that when business owners get really excited about nailing this part of their business, they make marketing, JV and other business decisions quickly and without regret.

      Reply

      • Jennifer Bourn

        Jul 11, 2011 at 03:45

        Meredith – Making decisions about JV partnerships is where is use values in my decision making A LOT! I can quickly run down my top values and if we’re not in alignment, my answer is no. Simple as that!

        Reply

    2. Sydni Craig-Hart

      Jul 11, 2011 at 01:59

      Jenn,

      I love that you said “the truly successful businesses look at values definition as a core requirement to define their brand.” That is SO true! Far too many business owners think their brand is their logo or the colors on their website, overlooking this basic business principle.

      My values are:

      Honesty
      Simplicity
      Tenacity
      Freedom
      Integrity

      (Not surprisingly, you and I have two in common….perhaps that’s why we became such fast friends! :)

      Just as you mentioned, every decision Wil and I make, program we create, or opportunity we consider is filtered through those 5 values. This is why we have a successful business that allows us to truly make a difference in our client’s lives, have the freedom to work how and when we want and enjoy a comfortable life.

      Thanks so much for highlighting this very important business principle! :)

      Warm regards,
      Sydni

      Sydni Craig-Hart
      The Smart Simple Marketing Coach
      http://smartsimplemarketing.com/blog/

      Reply

      • Jennifer Bourn

        Jul 11, 2011 at 03:43

        Sydni – I think you’re right – when you meet people who share the same values – or at least some o them the connections seem to form faster and stronger! Defining your values is an important step in defining your brand that can’t simply be glossed over or skipped – you’re right! It does make a big difference!

        Thanks – Jen Bourn

        Reply

    3. Amy Kinnaird

      Jul 11, 2011 at 03:30

      Jennifer,

      I’d like to add to your statement: “If your decisions are not in alignment with your values, your clients, prospects, and partners can tell — they will feel that something is off, or not quite right — and it will impact your success.” If I’m not in alignment, then *I* will know that something is not quite right!

      Values are such an important part of decision making, and some people may be out of touch with them or not realize that they are making decisions sub-consciously from some value set.. I’m interested to see what others post. As business owners I suppose that many of us would include Freedom. My other top values are Honesty, Family, Fun and Flexibility.

      Have a grateful day,
      Amy

      Reply

      • Jennifer Bourn

        Jul 11, 2011 at 03:40

        Amy – you’re exactly right! When I’m not in alignment with my values, I feel icky – I can tell right away! Thanks for sharing your values with me too! – Jen Bourn

        Reply

    4. Gina

      Jul 13, 2011 at 06:05

      Hi Jen, great discussion unfolding here. Having clearly defined values is SO important in life and business. When we are in alignment (internally i.e. authenticity and externally i.e. marketing) we make decisions with confidence and move towards greater success so much faster.

      My top five core values are: Freedom, Persistence, Self-honesty, Simplicity (keep it strategically simple), Purposefulness. And because I’ve spent the time to get clear about where I’m going and what I know for sure, I could go on with this list to a top 10 or 20.

      It’s a list I will revisit too as my life and business evolve.

      Love your “check in” questions too: “Is this in alignment with my values? Would I be in integrity with what I stand for if I say yes?”. Two others that I recommend to clients a lot once they have done some clarity work (a.k.a. created their decision-making filter) is “Does this take me closer to or further away from _______ (insert goal)?”

      ~ Gina xo

      Reply

    5. Andrea Costantine

      Jul 13, 2011 at 07:36

      Thank you for this fantastic reminder. It’s all about authenticity and congruency. The more congruent we are within our business, the more our business will be a success. I know that values are often spoken about in our personal lives, but incorporating them into our business ideals and model is essential as well.

      My top five values are: Freedom, Creativity, Self-Expression, Joy, and Spirituality

      Reply

    6. Brenda Stanton

      Jul 19, 2011 at 04:25

      Jennifer, love this article! As others have mentioned, it is all about congruency and being of and in integrity and values gives all that barometer to know if we are orienting out business and life around what means the most to us, not other :). Because if we care deeply about it other will too and they’ll feel the passion and inSIGHT shine through! Thanks for sharing your beautiful, valuable knowledge! Xo

      Reply

    7. Nika Stewart

      Jul 21, 2011 at 08:03

      Great discussion – and I love hearing everyone’s core values!
      Mine are: freedom, flexibility, creativity, purpose, and light-hearted whimsy.

      I love how you say your values “can’t be defined based on what others think they should be, or what you think they SHOULD be — they need to come from your heart and from the heart of your business.”

      This is often a big challenge for women entrepreneurs. We take advice from so many people that it is hard to get clear on what is important to US. Thank you for the great reminder to go inside and have trust in ourselves.

      Reply

      • Jennifer Bourn

        Jul 28, 2011 at 02:58

        Nika – I agree. It can be very hard to finally decipher the core values that truly represent your inner essence. For many I know, they had to go through this process more than one time to really be honest with themselves and stop thinking about what should be on the list. Heck, I felt really guilty at first because love and family aren’t in my top 5 core values. Now it doesn’t mean they are important to me and it doesn’t mean I love my family any less… But that was what I felt the first time I listed my true top five core values without them on it.

        Reply

    8. Kristi LeGue

      Sep 22, 2011 at 12:14

      Very well put Jennifer. I know when I started my business several years ago, I had no clue what my values were. Being a CPA, integrity was always at the top of my list and very important, but that was as far as it went. I remember when we were at Ali Brown’s Shine Conference in 2009 together and I figured out what some of my core values were there. I remember being surprised. A little scary I was running a business without knowing them.

      Before I start my next endeavor, I will definitely do some serious soul searching and see what comes up. My next business will be built on the foundation of values, unlike last time. :0)

      Kristi

      Reply

    Leave a Comment:



    Website