At my recent quarterly Mastermind Day, we did an exercise where we looked at our Core Values.  Some of us were choosing them for the first time, while others were re-affirming our ‘words’.

I decided to carry out the exercise as if it was my first time and look at it from a fresh perspective to challenge myself if they still held true since I identified them a few years back.

I was pleased to discover, they hadn’t changed.

My 3 core values were and remain:

• Trust
• Integrity
• Honesty

Everyone is different and so everyone’s values are different too.  And that’s okay.

I believe values underpin a business – not just how they are run, but the people within it. 

When values align, everyone will most likely get on, work together and be heading in the same direction, but if they clash, challenges and friction can occur.

It’s also the same with clients (and often with friends).  If values are similar, then the relationship is more likely to survive and be fun and supportive, but things may fizzle out in due course if they don’t align.

Back to my values and why.

Trust.  I am at the heart of my soul, a team player.  Trust is essential to work effectively with others towards a common goal.  Be it in business or sport (which is where a big part of my passion lies) – trust is a key ingredient.

As a Virtual PA, my clients need to trust me – not only in my ability to carry out tasks but also in my discretion.  Confidentiality is a must and I’m often heard saying “I know nothing” when in fact, I actually do know a lot!   If I didn’t have trust as a core value, I wouldn’t have a business.

Integrity.  This is interlinked with Trust as my clients trust me to clock my time accurately so I ensure I only bill for time I’ve actually worked.  So, if the doorbell goes, or I go and make a cuppa, the clock stops.  Integrity for me is about doing the right thing whether someone is watching or not.

Honesty.  This also interlinks between Trust and Integrity.  With me, what you see is what you get.  Lying for me, not only is it exhausting, but is not who I am.  I’m sometimes too honest for my own good and just an open book – but that authenticity is what makes me, me. 

Honesty also means being true to yourself.  You need to trust your own actions and be confident that they reflect your values.  It’s about having the courage to swim in your own lane – rather than copying or imitating someone else’s actions, content or ideas.

Core values aren’t just words, they guide actions and decisions and underpin the way I work, live and behave and treat those around me.

During this exercise, a few other words fell out and, whilst not my ‘top three’, they also hold true.  They were:

Reliability, Quality, Loyalty, Organisation and Teamwork.

Have you revisited your core values recently?

If not, I encourage you to do so – it’s a great exercise.

If you have, what where they?  There is no right or wrong to your values – do share below.

If you need some admin support in your business, and your values align with mine (so that it’s fun to work together!), then Email me and let’s chat.

If you’ve enjoyed reading this blog and you want more, go take a look (and a read) of my A-Z Blogs.