Version: Fall 2010
Values Exercise
Aim: Deepening self-awareness through an exercise focused on personal values.
Instructions. This exercise is a highly personal one—if done well. The instructor’s
aim is solely to assist you in raising your personal self-awareness. No judgment is
made of any values you discuss. Submissions are scanned to ensure exercise
completion—not to evaluate responses.
Part I.
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Values Lecture: Defining values and discussion of their source(s); Answering the question,
Why is awareness of our values important; and considering values as being “instrumental”
(means) or “ terminal” (ends).
Part 2.
Step 1. Sort the values into two piles (list has 81): “My Top 10,” and “All Others” (you may add
values not given in the list).
Step 2. Now, make a table with the Top 10 listed on the left side. On the right side, begin to
describe behaviors from daily life that demonstrate that this value results in behaviors.
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If you get stumped—because you find that you actually do very little to support this
espoused value, start another stack labeled “Values I Aspire To.” More on this later. If you
remove one of the top 10, go back to the “all others” and pick a replacement.
Reflect on how you use your resources (time, money, skills, etc) because these reflect
behaviors. You may identify things that you value that you wish you didn’t! For example,
you may realize that you spend much more time (through examination of your use
calendar) and money (through review of credit card statements), on your golf game than
you allot to spending time with a relationship that you say that you value highly. In this
case, “spending time with a hobby” becomes a value you add to your Top 10. Though you
wish it was not a value—you realize that your behavior clearly shows that it is a value.
Step 3. Finally, craft an analysis (2-page minimum) of your “Top 10” focused on explaining these
behaviors through an assessment of behaviors that demonstrate each value. As you develop
your analysis:
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Consider how you appropriate time, money, energies, and other resources as indicators of
your support for each value. (This is another way to think of behaviors.)
If you find few if any supportive behaviors, consider swapping this value for another one.
Step 4. (Optional—but valuable extension). Add an additional page explaining all values that
were removed—or added. Suggest a plan for how, if you were to repeat this exercise in a year,
you might be able to add an aspirational value back onto your “Top 10 list,” or remove something
that you wish wasn’t a top value—as shown by behaviors.
Version: Fall 2010
PERSONAL VALUES (81 total)
Source: W.R. Miller, J. C’de Baca, D.B. Matthews, P.L. Wilbourne University of New Mexico, 2001
ACCEPTANCE to be accepted as I am
ACCURACY to be accurate in my opinions and beliefs
AUTONOMY to be self-determined and independent
ACHIEVEMENT to have important accomplishments
ADVENTURE to have new and exciting experiences
ATTRACTIVENESS to be physically attractive
AUTHORITY to be in charge of and responsible for others
BEAUTY to appreciate beauty around me
CARING to take care of others
CHALLENGE to take on difficult tasks and problems
CHANGE to have a life full of change and variety
COMFORT to have a pleasant and comfortable life
COMMITMENT to make enduring, meaningful commitments
COMPASSION to feel and act on concern for others in the world
CONTRIBUTION to make a lasting contribution
COOPERATION to work collaboratively with others
COURTESY to be considerate and polite toward others
CREATIVITY to have new and original ideas
DEPENDABILITY to be reliable and trustworthy
EXCITEMENT to have a life full of thrills and stimulation
DUTY to carry out my duties and obligations
ECOLOGY to live in harmony with the environment
FAITHFULNESS to be loyal and true in relationships
FAME to be known and recognized
FAMILY to have a happy, loving family
FITNESS to be physically fit and strong
FLEXIBILITY to adjust to new circumstances easily
FORGIVENESS to be forgiving of others
FRIENDSHIP to have close, supportive friends
Version: Fall 2010
FUN to play and have fun
GENEROSITY to give what I have to others
GENUINENESS to act in a manner that is true to who I am
GOD’S WILL to seek and obey the will of God
GROWTH to keep changing and growing
HEALTH to be physically well and healthy
HELPFULNESS to be helpful to others
HONESTY to be honest and truthful
HOPE to maintain a positive and optimistic outlook
HUMILITY to be modest and unassuming
HUMOR to see the humorous side of myself and the world
INDEPENDENCE to be free from dependence on others
INDUSTRY to work hard and well at my life tasks
INNER PEACE to experience personal peace
INTIMACY to share my innermost experiences with others
JUSTICE to promote fair and equal treatment for all
KNOWLEDGE to learn and contribute valuable knowledge
LEISURE to take time to relax and enjoy
LOVED to be loved by those close to me
LOVING to give love to others
MASTERY to be competent in my everyday activities
MINDFULNESS to live conscious and mindful of the present moment
MODERATION to avoid excesses and find a middle ground
MONOGAMY to have one close, loving relationship
NON-CONFORMITY to question and challenge authority and norms
NURTURANCE to take care of and nurture others
OPENNESS to be open to new experiences, ideas, and options
ORDER to have a life that is well-ordered and organized
PASSION to have deep feelings about ideas, activities, or people
PLEASURE to feel good
POPULARITY to be well-liked by many people
POWER to have control over others
Version: Fall 2010
PURPOSE to have meaning and direction in my life
RATIONALITY to be guided by reason and logic
REALISM to see and act realistically and practically
RESPONSIBILITY to make and carry out responsible decisions
RISK to take risks and chances
ROMANCE to have intense, exciting love in my life
SELF-ACCEPTANCE to accept myself as I am
SAFETY to be safe and secure
SELF-CONTROL to be disciplined in my own actions
SELF-ESTEEM to feel good about myself
SELF-KNOWLEDGE to have a deep and honest understanding of myself
SERVICE to be of service to others
SEXUALITY to have an active and satisfying sex life
SIMPLICITY to live life simply, with minimal needs
SOLITUDE to have time and space where I can be apart from others
SPIRITUALITY to grow and mature spiritually
STABILITY to have a life that stays fairly consistent
TOLERANCE to accept and respect those who differ from me
TRADITION to follow respected patterns of the past
VIRTUE to live a morally pure and excellent life
WEALTH to have plenty of money
WORLD PEACE to work to promote peace in the world
Version: Fall 2010
What About Me?
Values and Attitude Insights
WHAT DO I VALUE?
Listed below are two sets of statements. The first list presents 10 terminal values. These
are desirable end-states of existence. Think of them as goals that you might like to
achieve during your lifetime. The second list presents 10 instrumental values. These are
preferable modes of behavior, or means of achieving the terminal values.
For each list, rank-order the statements according to how important each is to you personally.
Score a "1" next to the value that is most important, a "2" next to the second most important,
and so forth. Treat each list separately.
Terminal Values … “end-states of existence.” Examples of terminal values
___ Happiness; satisfaction in life
___ Knowledge and wisdom
___ Peace and harmony in the world
___ Pride in accomplishment
___ Prosperity; wealth
___ Lasting friendships
___ Recognition from peers
___ Salvation; finding eternal life
___ Security; freedom from threat
___ Self-respect
___ __________________________
___ __________________________
Instrumental Values … “means of achieving the terminal values.” Examples for
consideration
___ Assertiveness; standing up for yourself
___ Being helpful or caring toward others
___ Dependability; being counted upon by others
___ Education and intellectual pursuits
___ Hard work and achievement
___ Obedience; following the wishes of others
___ Open-mindedness; receptivity to new ideas
___ Self-sufficiency; independence
___ Truthfulness; honesty
___ Being well-mannered and courteous toward others
___ _____________________________
Version: Fall 2010
___ _____________________________
Discussion Questions. Develop a solution on your own, then compare with your team.
1. What assumptions are “underneath” each of the values?
2. What are key values that are missing from the list given?
3. For each of the values mentioned above, try to identify how your current day-today behaviors either demonstrate how strongly your “walk matches the talk.”
4. How might this value lead to organizational efficiency or dysfunction when you
compare your “scores” and the resulting behavior to that of others you interact with.
Source: Based on M. Rokeach, THE NATURE OF HUMAN VALUES (New York: Free Press, 1973).