Explore Your Values

When to use Explore Your Values

Use this method when you want to initiate a conversation about personal values within a team, especially when aiming to align individual values with team or organizational goals.

What it solves

Lack of self-awareness regarding personal values, misalignment of values within a team, difficulty in making values-based decisions.

How to run Explore Your Values, step by step

1. (5 min) Distribute sticky notes to each participant and instruct them to write down ten things they value most, one per sticky note, framing them as values (e.g., 'Friendship,' 'Integrity').
2. (2 min) Ask participants to spread out their sticky notes in front of them for a clear overview.
3. (30 seconds) Instruct participants to quickly discard the three least important values based on gut feeling.
4. (20 seconds) Repeat the discarding process, eliminating two more values.
5. (20 seconds) Repeat again, discarding two final values, leaving three core values.
6. (15 min) Allow individual reflection on the remaining values: 'What do I feel about these values? Were they expected? How do they show up in my life?'
7. (30 min) Facilitate paired or small group discussions using the following prompts: 'What actions do I already take to live by them? What actions would I like to take?'

Materials needed

• Sticky notes
• Pens
• Timer
• Whiteboard or virtual whiteboard (Miro, Mural)
• Optional: Reflection prompts printed or displayed

Facilitator tips

• Emphasize the importance of gut reactions during the discarding phases to avoid overthinking.
• Create a safe space for sharing reflections, reminding participants that there are no right or wrong answers.

Common pitfalls

• Participants struggling to discard values: Remind them that this is about prioritization, not devaluation.
• Superficial reflections: Encourage deeper exploration by asking probing follow-up questions.

Variations

• Provide a pre-defined list of values for participants to choose from, especially useful for large groups or limited time.
• After individual reflection, have participants create a personal values statement.
• Link the values to team behaviors and create a team charter based on shared values.

Running it online or hybrid

Use a shared online whiteboard like Miro or a collaborative document for virtual sticky notes. Utilize breakout rooms for paired or small group discussions.

What it produces

A list of each participant's top three core values, along with reflections on how those values are currently being lived and how they could be further integrated into daily actions.

Origin

Adapted from Hyper Island — source

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