How to Use a Values Exploration in Your Next Career Pivot

It may come as no surprise that work is one of the most influential factors when it comes to our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. We spend a significant part of our adult life at work– not to mention the hours we devote to commuting to and from, planning for, and sometimes even toiling over work. With the ever more unpredictable job market and burnout levels through the roof, many of my clients have been juggling with the prospect of some sort of a career pivot. Whether it’s identifying changes that they can affect in their current job to making a 180-degree career shift, most individuals I encounter have the most difficult time deciding where and when to start. While therapy can be a great place to engage in the exploratory process, there are a few things you can do on your own time to get the ball rolling, the first of which is what I like to call a values exploration.

Values vs. Goals

Let’s start by making the distinction between values versus goals. While a goal can be seen as a measurable achievement that we can cross off a list, values are the ongoing force that drives us in the direction of what is important. A metaphor that some use is the idea that if a value is like following a compass north, goals are the mountains that we summit and the rivers that we bound along the way.

Values Card Sort

So where do we start? A valuable tool that I like to point my clients to is the values card sort. There are few versions online (just search for “values card sort”), but I recommend printing out the version created by Miller et Et al. from the University of New Mexico (2001) for the full experience. From the set of values, you will make three piles: not important to me, important to me, and very important to me. From the very important pile, try to set aside 5 to 7 core values that describe what matters to you, the type of person you would like to be, and the life you want to live.

Present vs. Future

From there, I engage the client in a conversation about their core values. Which ones are currently present in your life and why? Which ones still need to be cultivated?

Next, we can break it down into the different sectors of life: work/education, relationships, health/personal growth, and leisure. In what areas of life do you feel aligned with your values? Where do you feel more distant? It may be helpful to organize your thoughts in a table or use visual tools like a bullseye to conceptualize where you stand in relation to your values.

Taking Action

It’s easy to get stuck in the research and reflection phase. Fortunately, you can leverage your core values to set concrete goals. SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) are a great way to set waypoints on your way to a more values aligned life.

Conclusion

Career pivots and big life changes can be difficult, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you would like a more in depth values exploration, reach out to Fran today to schedule an appointment!