Divining Rod for Decision-making
I recently attended a training in Canada for a company I thought I’d join in partnership with. While the training and materials were excellent, the company is in a newer business development phase. Along with my coaching and consulting practice, I didn’t feel it would be valuable for me at this time to invest in helping build this business. My decision stemmed from my values at this time. Assessing decisions from our values is an often bandied around concept I feel we take for granted. But when you take time to quietly assess choices from your values, the process is less confusing and time-consuming to reach your conclusion.
While abroad I was invested in receiving, taking in, meeting people, learning the company’s facilitation model, and understanding the business. When I returned, I had a few quiet days to assess the entire picture and gauge it against my value system. Given other professional and personal key interests for me and my time and energy, this would not have been a good fit for me.
Values are a divining rod to point you in a clear direction. They help you to gauge when you should push out more and when you need to let things come more to you. At this stage in my life, balance is of utmost importance and I want to feel that I fully enjoy all aspects of my work and how it fits with my personal life. While still active in marketing, I am far less in a driving mode than in earlier days. I’m also well aware that while personal growth is a lifelong learning, there comes a point in your career where you and your offerings are good enough
and likely far better than you give yourself credit for. To invest in this company now would have challenged this, requiring additional trainings and marketing.
A few trusted individuals can help mirror your values back to you, as a few loved ones did for me. But be careful not to confuse your values with someone elses. These healthy conversations will then serve more as reminders of what you have already said is important to you, rather than add conflicting messages.
Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron film The Good Night
Start with a clear list of your top ten career values, personal values and relationship values and notice how they overlap. If they differ, ask yourself some deeper questions to get at the truth for you. Then use these values as your divining rod when making tough choices. In doing so, you’ll always discover the gold!
Have you recognized that to define and trust your values is important in your decision-making?
