Table of Contents
Core Values Creator Tool
Video tutorial
What are core values?
A core value is a fundamental principle that matters so much to you that you use it as a compass to move your life, team, or organization forward.Â
Your core values are the standards for your behavior, your products & services, and how people interact in your group.
They emerge from your backstory, experiences, and personality. They describe the kind of person, team, or business you want to become.
You can set core values on different levels: on a personal level, for groups of people (team, family…), or at the organizational level.
Are core values the same as character traits?
Core values are not the same as character traits. However, some character traits can evolve into core values.
For example, if you are a very honest person, then honesty could become one of the core values that you try to honor at all times.
A core value is thus an expression of an ideal that you will try to live up to. You might not always succeed at this, but those situations offer an opportunity for reflection.
How many core values should I set?
Probably around five is ideal. Ten is a bit too many because it would be challenging to keep them constantly in the back of your mind. One or two is probably not enough. So around five is suitable for practical use.
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How important is getting clear on your core values?
The importance of setting your core values is wildly underestimated! Core values are a must-have instead of a nice-to-have, because they are your standards for your decision-making, for your behavior, for the quality and characteristics of your products, services, and more.
Core values should be frequently referred to
When you have a business or you operate in a group of people, it’s important that the core values are clear to everyone and that you know which specific behaviors honor or violate them.
You can use your core values for guidance on what to do in crucial situations like hiring and firing. For example, if someone doesn’t live up to the values company, they are not/no longer a good fit for the organization.
I find it remarkable that core values are not communicated more explicitly, especially in larger businesses. They should not only be clear to the workforce, but also to the outside world. The people you are going to interact with, like partners or clients, will identify with your core values, and they are attracted to who you are or your brand.
Your values should thus be front and center in everything that you do.
Put your core values in writing and refer to them frequently.
Start and end your day by looking at your personal and organizational core values. It will remind you of the principles that you try to live up to in order to render better service and create a positive impact on the rest of the world.
Core values examples
Examples of personal core values
Below are possible core values of fictional characters.
Note how changing even one of these core values to one that doesn’t fit the character would be immediately noticeable. In fact, many fans of popular books are disappointed when the core values of their favorite characters are not respected when the story is translated to the big screen.
Frodo (The Lord of The Rings)
Frodo's core values could be altruism, benevolence, commitment, compassion, honesty.
Yoda (Star Wars)
Yoda's core values could be awareness, responsibility, wisdom, encouragement, simplicity, peace.
Neo (The Matrix)
Neo's core values could be truth, teamwork, perseverance, skillfulness, reliability.
From values to behavior
It’s essential to describe what each of your values means to you personally (see also our core values creator).
For example, in Frodo’s case, altruism could mean that he always wants to be kind and helpful to other people. For Yoda, peace could mean that he always seeks to act in harmony with the laws of the universe and only resorts to violence if there is no other option.
Examples of organizational core values
Evermove's Core Values
Growth, integrity, leadership, strategy, and health.
Read more about the meaning of these values in our organization
Apple's core values
Apple actually has a complete page to describe what each value means and what they are doing to live up to them: accessibility, education, environment, inclusion and diversity, privacy, supplier responsibility.
Disney
Cleanliness, friendliness, quality, innovation, and storytelling.
Steve Jobs on the importance of core values
The worst thing that could possibly happen as we get big and more influence is if we change our core values and start letting it slide. I’d rather quit than do that.
It’s essential to describe what each of your values means to you personally (see also our core values creator).
For example, in Frodo’s case, altruism could mean that he always wants to be kind and helpful to other people. For Yoda, peace could mean that he always seeks to act in harmony with the laws of the universe and only resorts to violence if there is no other option.
Where do core values fit in my personal growth journey?
One of the cornerstones of our business is to take a strategic approach to personal development. This means knowing where information fits in your personal growth journey. It’s impossible to master everything at the same time so we want to guide you on a path through that wilderness.
Setting your core values is one of the first steps on that path. For this reason, we call setting your core values a personal growth essential. They are foundational because you don’t need to do or have anything to set your core values. As I already explained, they emerge from your personal, team, or organizational backstory, from your experiences, and from who or what you aspire to be. So you already know which core values resonate with you and which ones don’t on a visceral level.
This also implies that, while your core values can evolve as you become more experienced or mature, they only do so slowly. It’s also possible that they don’t change but that their meaning or the behaviors that are attached to them might shift a bit.
If we look at personal development on a larger scale, setting your core values is a part of leadership. Personal leadership is really the quality that ignites and surrounds your entire growth process. It’s what keeps your growth process going and growing. And effective leaders lead their life, team, or organization by their core values. They are clear on them and they take responsibility for living up to them.
A strategic look at core values
Let’s put core values in the proper perspective of your personal growth process. Where do they fit in the process of going from where we are to where we want to go?Â
Level 1: Backstory & character
As you can see in the visual, the first layer of this process is all about being very clear on your backstory and character. This relates to looking at the value of your past experiences and who you are right now.
Level 2: Core values
Setting your core values is the next step. You describe the kind of behavior that your going to try to honor at all times.
Level 3: Purpose
Next is getting clarity on your purpose. Your purpose is why you exist. I will do some separate videos on the purpose of your life, team, or company, because purpose confuses people, while this is actually not such a difficult topic at all if you approach it from a natural, strategic point of view.
Level 4: Vision
Next is becoming clear on the vision for your own life, team, business, and for the rest of the world. So this is all about formulating a bigger vision that's going to pull you forward. We call it a moving vision, one that is going to emotionally pull you forward.
Level 5: Mission
The level above vision is mission. Your mission is what you are going to do specifically to move closer to your vision. So two people or companies might have a similar vision, but will try to move closer to that vision through a completely different mission.
Level 6: Objectives & key results
Next are your objectives and key results. This level is the strategic breakdown of the different steps that you will need to take in order to accomplish your mission, which will move you closer to your vision, and which is an expression of your purpose.
Level 7: Projects and actionable to do's
At the highest, most tactical level, you have your day to day activities. So these are your projects and actionable to do's. What you do on this level changes often, while all the levels below are much more foundational. And your core values are the basis of your foundational personal growth arsenal, so it's almost needless to say how important they really are.
Make your core values come alive!
Some ideas to make your core values come more and more alive:
- Make them visible and look at them every day. F.e. you could mention them in your journal, put them on a wall...
- Add more details to what they mean to you, your team, or your company.
- Add to the list of the behaviors associated with each value, as challenges present themselves or decisions need to be made.
Share your thoughts and values
We’d love to learn what your core values are and how you put them into practice. If you want to share them, or if you have questions, please leave a comment below.
You may also share the link to this Core Values Creator with other people.
We hope that our tool and this information were helpful to you.
Thank you for watching/reading/interacting, and remember to keep moving forward!
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