Acting in Alignment

When to use Acting in Alignment

Use this method when you want to help a team or group become more aware of their values and how those values influence their decisions and behaviors, especially when aiming for increased authenticity and alignment.

What it solves

Disconnection between espoused values and actual behavior, leading to decreased trust and engagement.

How to run Acting in Alignment, step by step

1. Imagination (15 mins) - Guide participants through a visualization exercise, prompting them to imagine their ideal world and note down key words and ideas related to their values.
2. Value Map (15 mins) - Provide participants with a list of values (e.g., Brené Brown's Dare to Lead list) and have them select 7-10 core values that resonate with them.
3. Reflective Alignment (15 mins) - Ask participants to reflect on two challenging situations from the past 3-6 months: one where they acted in alignment with their values and one where they did not. Have them note down what happened and how they acted.
4. Pairing, Sharing & Mirroring (15 mins) - Pair participants and have them share their reflections with each other. The listener should practice active listening and then mirror back what they heard without adding personal opinions.
5. Authentic Micro Planning (25 mins) - Have participants individually identify 1-2 specific situations they anticipate encountering soon where staying aligned with their values might be challenging. They should then write down at least one concrete action they can take to remain true to their values in those moments. Bring the group together in a circle and have each person share one planned action.

Materials needed

• Blank sheets of paper
• List of values (e.g., Brené Brown's Dare to Lead list)
• Pens/pencils
• Timer

Facilitator tips

• Create a safe and supportive environment where participants feel comfortable sharing their reflections.
• Emphasize that the mirroring exercise is not a discussion or feedback session, but rather an opportunity for active listening and reflection.

Common pitfalls

• Participants struggling to identify their core values. Provide examples and encourage them to reflect on what truly matters to them.
• Participants feeling uncomfortable sharing personal experiences. Remind them that they can choose the level of detail they share.

Variations

• Use different visualization prompts for the imagination exercise.
• Have participants create a visual representation of their value map instead of just listing them.

Running it online or hybrid

Use breakout rooms for pairing and sharing. A shared digital whiteboard (Miro, Mural) can replace physical value maps and action plans.

What it produces

A personal Value Map and an Action Plan for aligning future actions with core values.

Origin

Adapted from Transition Makers — source

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