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Values Aren't Just Corporate Wall Art: Why Living Your Truth Actually Pays Off
Right, here's something that's been grinding my gears for the better part of two decades in this business. Every second company I walk into has these glossy posters about "values" plastered all over their walls like some sort of workplace wallpaper. Innovation! Integrity! Excellence! The usual suspects.
But here's what really gets me fired up - and this might ruffle some feathers - most people treat their personal values like that gym membership they bought in January. Good intentions, zero follow-through.
I've been consulting with everyone from tradies in Geelong to CEOs in Collins Street for 18 years now, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that the people who actually honour their values aren't just happier. They're more successful. And I'm talking proper success, not just the fake-it-till-you-make-it variety.
The Day I Learned Values Weren't Optional
Back in 2011, I was working with this manufacturing outfit in Newcastle. Lovely people, but they had a problem. Their best project manager - let's call him Dave - was about to walk out the door. Not for more money. Not for a better title. Dave was leaving because every decision the company made felt like nails on a chalkboard to him.
See, Dave valued fairness above almost everything else. And this company? Well, they had a habit of playing favourites. Some clients got the red carpet treatment, others got whatever was left over. Dave watched this for months, getting more and more frustrated, until he finally snapped.
"I can't keep pretending this is okay," he told me during our exit interview. "Every day I come in here, I feel like I'm selling a piece of myself."
That conversation changed how I think about workplace stress forever. Dave wasn't just having a bad day. He was experiencing what psychologists call "values conflict" - and it was literally making him sick.
The company lost their best performer because they couldn't see that honouring values isn't some fluffy HR concept. It's business critical.
Why Your Values Are Your Competitive Advantage
Here's where I'm going to say something controversial: I believe people who compromise their values consistently are actually less productive than those who don't.
I know, I know. That sounds backwards in a world where "do whatever it takes" is still seen as the mark of a hard worker. But hear me out.
When you're constantly fighting against your own moral compass, you're using up what researchers call "cognitive resources." It's like having multiple browser tabs open in your brain - eventually, everything starts running slower.
Take authenticity, for instance. If being genuine is one of your core values, then every fake smile in a pointless meeting is energy you can't use for actual work. Every time you bite your tongue when you should speak up, that's mental bandwidth wasted.
I've seen this play out hundreds of times. The people who align their work with their values don't just perform better - they're more creative, more resilient, and frankly, more pleasant to be around.
The Values Audit Nobody Wants to Do
Most people can rattle off what they think their values are. Family. Success. Honesty. The usual lineup. But here's what I learned from a particularly brutal self-assessment about five years ago: what you say you value and what you actually value are often completely different things.
I spent a week tracking where I actually spent my time and energy. Not where I thought I spent it. Where it actually went.
Turns out, I was spending 70% of my time on clients who paid well but treated their staff like dirt. Meanwhile, I kept saying my top value was "making work better for everyone." The numbers don't lie, mate.
That little exercise was uncomfortable as hell, but it forced me to make some changes. I dropped three high-paying clients that year because their approach to problem-solving was basically "throw people at it until something sticks."
Revenue took a hit initially. But within 18 months, I was earning more than ever - working with companies that actually cared about their people.
Values in Action: It's Messier Than You Think
Living your values isn't like following a recipe. It's more like jazz - lots of improvisation, and sometimes you hit the wrong note.
Take my mate Sarah who runs a small marketing agency in Brisbane. One of her core values is "creativity," but she found herself saying yes to every boring, cookie-cutter campaign that walked through the door because the money was good.
She was miserable. Her team was miserable. And ironically, her work was getting worse because nobody was excited about what they were doing.
So Sarah made a decision that seemed completely mental at the time: she started turning down work that didn't align with her creative values. Not all of it - she still had bills to pay - but enough to make room for the interesting stuff.
The result? Her portfolio improved dramatically. Learning opportunities started flowing in from clients who actually valued innovation. Her team's morale went through the roof.
But here's the kicker - it wasn't smooth sailing. There were months where cash flow was tight. There were moments of doubt. Values-based living isn't a magic bullet; it's a commitment that requires constant recalibration.
The Workplace Values Minefield
Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room: what happens when your personal values clash with your workplace culture?
This is where things get properly complicated. I've worked with countless people who feel trapped between their mortgage payments and their moral compass. It's a special kind of workplace hell.
But here's what I've observed: people who find ways to honour their values, even in less-than-ideal environments, tend to navigate these situations much better.
Sometimes it's small acts of integrity. Sometimes it's choosing which battles to fight. Sometimes it's building alliances with like-minded colleagues.
And sometimes, yes, it means having the courage to walk away. But that's usually the last resort, not the first.
The Values-Success Connection Nobody Talks About
Here's something that might surprise you: according to my completely unscientific but highly experienced observations, about 78% of people who've successfully aligned their work with their values report higher job satisfaction within two years.
More interesting? They also tend to get promoted faster. Not because they're playing politics, but because authentic people are more trustworthy. And trustworthy people get more opportunities.
I've seen this pattern repeat itself over and over. The woman who values collaboration becomes the go-to person for cross-functional projects. The bloke who values learning becomes the obvious choice for new initiatives.
Your values, when lived authentically, become your brand. And a strong personal brand is incredibly valuable in today's market.
Making It Work: Practical Steps That Actually Matter
Alright, enough philosophy. Let's get practical.
First, figure out what you actually value, not what you think you should value. This requires brutal honesty. Look at your calendar, your bank statements, your energy levels throughout the week. Where are you thriving? Where are you just going through the motions?
Second, start small. You don't need to revolutionise your entire life overnight. Pick one area where you can better align your actions with your values. Maybe it's speaking up more in meetings if you value honesty. Maybe it's delegating more if you value trust.
Third, expect resistance - from others and from yourself. Change is uncomfortable, even positive change. Your colleagues might not understand why you're suddenly less willing to work 60-hour weeks if work-life balance is one of your values.
Fourth, find your tribe. Connect with people who share similar values. They'll help you stay accountable when the going gets tough.
The Long Game
Living your values isn't a quick fix. It's a long-term strategy for building a career and a life that actually feels worth living.
I've made plenty of mistakes along the way. I've compromised when I should have stood firm. I've been too rigid when I should have been flexible. But every time I've aligned my actions with my values, things have worked out better than I expected.
Not easier, necessarily. But better.
The companies that truly embrace values-based cultures - and I mean really embrace them, not just stick them on the wall - consistently outperform their competitors. The individuals who do the same tend to build more sustainable, fulfilling careers.
Your values aren't just nice-to-haves. They're your competitive advantage. Use them.
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