The Values Assessment Checklist
While some of my clients know exactly what they want to do next when they come to me for job search coaching, there are others who will indicate that they are uncertain what they may want to pursue next in their career. I do not find this unusual at all. One of the early assessment tools that I was introduced to as part of my training as a Five O’Clock Club Certified Career Coach, was the Values Assessment checklist tool. I have used it often with clients.
One of the realities of life is that while some of our values remained fixed over time, others do change depending on what point of life we are at. For example, Career Advancement, is often very important to those in the beginning years or the prime earning years of their career. However, in the latter part of their career, (perhaps the last 8 to 10 years), Stability in terms of job and job role are far more important. In recent years the value of Work Life Balance has become far more prevalent with my clients, (particularly after the changes in workstyle brought about by the COV19 pandemic), than it might have been in the past. There is no one right or wrong answer when it comes to what are the right values for you at a particular point of your life or career development stage. Only you can be the one to answer that question.
Even as one with their own entrepreneurial business over the last 15 years, I began to become aware of my values changing in terms of the work I do. I still very much enjoy the direct one to one coaching I do with my clients. Additionally, I also love providing webinar presentations (and if asked in-person presentations), on the various aspects of the job search process. However, I am finding, that other aspects of what have been my entrepreneurial business have become more distasteful to me.
When I moved from working in a corporate world environment, and moved to the world of the entrepreneur, I became involved with a few different networking groups. Those groups did help my development as an entrepreneur, and helped me to learn the nuances of working in that style. As with any group, the need to help facilitate the group’s activities was there. That led to be being involved in several different roles in these organizations over the years, (Chapter President or Chapter Vice-President, Secretary, Education or Mentor Coordinator). Blessed with the ability to be well organized, and having a good memory for details, I often became the go to person for questions in the operation of the groups, even when I did not have a formal title role.
However, as with any group type process, rules and regulations are part of the process, leading to bureaucracy. While never a big proponent of bureaucracy as one of my values, I now find that it has become something that I strongly detest. As a result, my desire to be part of such groups is waning. I still love meeting people. I love to network and learn about other individuals. However, my desired approach is to do that on a one-to-one basis, possibly over a coffee meeting, or lunch, or if far distances with each other over the computer screen.
Additionally, I realize at this season of my life, I have other educational interests I would like to pursue. Many of them involve my faith as a Roman Catholic. While, I did receive instruction in my faith as a youth, I am finding that there so much more that I did not learn. I am becoming acquainted with several different tools that are helping me to increase my education. Additionally, I find I learn best in the style of instructional or informational videos, some reading and in short episode doses. I am beginning to put such learnings into my daily schedule, meaning that I need to let go of other aspects taking up time in my life.
Please realize, if you feel at a crossroads in your life, (whether professionally, personally, or both), that does not mean something is wrong with you. And, if the things calling to you to explore are different from the past, examine those callings for what they are and see why they may be calling you at this time. We all evolve as we pass through our life’s journey, and that particularly is prevalent in what we value at different times of our life. Be open to assessing those values, testing out how you may want to live those values and then moving toward those opportunities that allow you to experience and enjoy them.
