100+ core value examples that can help you succeed at work

What drives you? Sometimes, you may be so busy with your to-do list that you overlook your motivations and sense of purpose. But taking the time to identify your core values can help you find passion in your career, and achieve success and fulfilment in both your personal and professional life.

Knowing and standing by your personal values ensure that you work towards what you really want. At the same time, staying true to yourself can give you more peace of mind. In this article, we’ll help you uncover your core values and show you how to implement them in the workplace and in your personal life.

• What are core values?
• The difference between core values, beliefs, and attitudes
• The benefits of living by your core values
• How to identify your personal core values
• 100+ examples of personal core values
• How to implement core values
• Core values in the workplace
• The dark side of core values
• Conclusion
• Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What are core values?

Core values are fundamental principles and deeply held beliefs that guide you in making decisions and dealing with others. Whether you realise it or not, you are always influenced by your personal values.

For instance, if you make an extra effort to meet your deadlines and communicate with your boss about your progress, it could be because you value reliability and trustworthiness. Core values also manifest when you compromise them. For example, you might feel uneasy about taking an extra long lunch with your colleagues even if your boss never finds out about it.

The difference between core values, beliefs, and attitudes

People often use the terms “values,” “attitudes,” and “beliefs” interchangeably. While these concepts are connected, there are essential differences between them. Distinguishing between these concepts can help you develop more self-awareness.

Beliefs are our assumptions and convictions about the world around us. We can have spiritual, political, moral, and social beliefs. Meanwhile, values are ideals that guide our actions. For instance, creativity is a value, not a belief.

Lastly, attitudes have to do with whether we like or dislike something. They are the judgments we form about anything, whether that’s a person, event, place, idea, job, etc. Our beliefs shape our values. In turn, our values influence our attitudes toward the things around us.

For instance, if you believe that challenges strengthen your personal and professional growth, your values may be perseverance and grit. You will then have a more open attitude toward obstacles than those who feel overwhelmed by them.

The benefits of living by your core values

A more fulfilling career

When you know your core values, you can formulate your own definition of success. For instance, many people associate success with high salaries and working for a prestigious company. But if you value family, your definition of success might include being able to spend a lot of time with your children.

You will also be better equipped to choose a company that aligns with your core personal values. If you value family time with your children, you might pick a job with a local company with more flexible hours. Conversely, if you are currently focused on your career, you might prefer a workplace that offers  intensive training.

Lastly, your values can become an asset at work. For example, you can include your core values in your cover letter and resumé. You can also mention them during your interview, especially when the interviewer asks behavioural questions. If your values match the company's, this could earn you points with your interviewer.

Your values can certainly help you perform better. For instance, if you value service, you could go the extra mile for clients. Your efforts can help create repeat business, and if you’re gunning for a raise, you can cite the increase in sales at your next performance review.

Improved well-being

Living out your values can be challenging. But when you do so, you can enjoy the satisfaction and peace of mind that comes from staying true to yourself. After all, you’re free from the internal conflict of compromising your principles. According to the coaching platform BetterUp, living by your values helps you manage your stress levels, since you can prioritise what matters most to you.

Stronger leadership skills

Staying true to your values helps you be more decisive and just confident enough —two essential leadership qualities. When you solve problems, you can use your principles to guide your choices. This allows you to stand by your decisions. After all, whatever the outcome of your choice, you can be assured that you acted in accordance with your values.

If you’re well-grounded in your values, you can also inspire others. For example, if you value kindness and always treat your colleagues with compassion and empathy, you might encourage them to do the same.

This also applies to your company’s core values. When making difficult decisions, you can support your choices by citing the organisation’s core values.

Better relationships

According to BetterUp, we can enjoy healthier relationships with our loved ones when we are able to articulate our personal values. When you’re clear on your core values, you’re better equipped to express your needs to others. You can also find friends and partners who share the same principles.

Knowing your core values makes you more self-aware. When you understand the values that drive you, you can avoid projecting those values onto your colleagues. For instance, you value travelling, which you spend time and money on. Knowing that this is justyourpersonal core value, however, you can avoid looking down on colleagues who value other things, such as shopping or food.

How to identify your personal core values

1. Make a personal values list

“What do I value the most? What excites me? What are my non-negotiables?” As you answer these questions, list all the values that come to mind. Don’t think too hard or limit yourself; just list everything that matters to you. You can refer to the examples of personal values below, and see which values resonate with you.

2. Think about the people you admire the most

“Who are my role models?” List all the people you deeply admire. It could be a relative, friend, mentor, or even your favourite celebrities and public figures. Then write down what you admire about them. Chances are, the things you like about your role models reflect your core values. For example, if you admire Barack Obama, you probably value confidence, leadership, and optimism.

3. Reflect on past experiences

Think about the times when you felt most like yourself or when you were most at ease. Chances are, those were times when you were living in accordance with your core values. Conversely, think about when you had to act differently to fit in. Was there a time you felt like something was missing? You were likely doing something that was out of line with your personal values.

Perhaps you feel most at ease spending time with your family. In that case, you probably value family, balance, and harmony. Or maybe you felt the most aligned with yourself when you stood up for someone else. In that case, you can include courage and fairness in your list of core values.

4. Think about your legacy

Forbes council member and executive coach Lillit Cholakian recommends considering the kind of legacy you want to leave behind. She suggests writing your own eulogy. Contemplating how you want others to remember you can reveal your personal values and principles.

5. Group related values together

Once you finish reflecting, look at your list and see which personal values you can group together. For instance, service, selflessness, altruism, and generosity can go together. Then pick a word that encapsulates all of these values for you. Keep grouping and combining related values until you have about 3-5 values – and you have your core values.

100+ examples of personal core values

How to implement core values

It’s crucial to align your behaviour with your core values. After all, living out your values can give you a stronger sense of self and improve your mental well-being. When you follow your internal compass, you have the satisfaction of knowing you’re being true to yourself. Here are some tips on following your personal values.

Display them where you can see them

Write down your core values and stick them where you often see them, such as your bathroom mirror or desk. Doing so will remind you to be guided by your values in everything you do.

Define your values for yourself

Brightspace Coaching CEO Jessica Dowches-Wheeler recommends creating your own definition for each of your core values. Articulating what your values mean to you can help you live them out.

For example, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines integrity as “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.” But in the context of work, someone might define integrity for themselves as “submitting my work on time and letting my supervisor know in advance if I can’t make the deadline. It also means turning in high-quality work that I can be proud of.”

Choose an organisation that shares your values

Singapore Business Reviewreports that 54% of Singaporeans are willing to leave their jobs if their employers do not share their values on social responsibility, diversity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability. The same report shows that 86% of Singaporean workers are inspired to go the extra mile at work if their employer’s values match theirs.

When you work for a company that shares your values, you can find more satisfaction in your job. You may become more motivated to put in extra effort in your tasks, which can improve your performance and help you advance in your career.

“Those that work for companies that have values aligned with their own report a higher sense of belonging and productivity than those that do not,” says Milieu Insight CEO Gerald Ang.

Milieu’sValues at Workreport compared the productivity levels of Singaporeans who were happy at their job versus those who were not. Ang shared that 87% of happy workers said they could do their job effectively. By contrast, only 53% of unhappy workers said they could do their job effectively.

Surround yourself with people who share the same values

As the saying goes, you are the company you keep. Your friends don’t need to share the exact same values, but they do need to respect yours. And you are more likely to stay true to your values when you have the support of people who do the same.

For example, let’s say you value punctuality. You have a friend who is always late, which makes you anxious and frustrated. You don’t need to end the friendship, as long as your friend understands why being on time is important to you. However, you can also surround yourself with friends who respect your need for promptness. You don’t need that extra stress.

Evaluate your day based on your values

Reflect on the day’s events and look at them through the lens of your core values. Were there any moments when you lived them out? Were there things you did that did not align with your values?

Don't beat yourself up if you did anything contrary to your values. Consider what you could have done differently, and recommit to your values. This daily reflection can help you become more aware of how aligned you are with your principles. In the long run, it can help you develop the habit of living them out.

Core values in the workplace

Most companies have their own set of core values. Even if the company doesn’t explicitly state what these are, you can get a sense of them from vision and mission statements. Your employers will expect you to adhere to these values. And if you’re at the managerial level, you will need to model these values to your colleagues.

After all, while executive management sets the core values, managers play a big part in promoting these values to employees. When the organisation's leadership lives by the company values, this shows employees and customers that the organisation is authentic about its core principles.

Aside from modelling company core values, managers can promote them by incorporating them into the hiring and promotion processes. For instance, you can ask behavioural questions based on company values. You can include  these values in performance reviews. And when you make promotion decisions, you can factor in how well your employees embody them.

But why put all this effort into living out corporate values? Using values to guide your workplace culture can benefit your company in several ways. For one, it creates a healthy and positive organisational culture. It gives your employees a clearer understanding of what you expect of them.

It also helps leaders make decisions in times of crisis. When making difficult choices, you can use the company values as a guide. Lastly, when customers and clients see that an organisation stands by its corporate values, this helps improve their perception of the company.

The dark side of core values

The potential effects of not living out your core values

There can be times when you get tempted to compromise your values. This is especially true if you face peer pressure. It can also be tempting if you receive a lucrative job offer from a company that doesn’t match your values.

Be aware that ignoring your core values can adversely affect your well-being and mental health. You could experience a lack of personal fulfilment, along with the internal conflict that comes from being untrue to yourself. In the context of work, you run the risk of getting burned out.

The potential effects of not adhering to company core values

When leadership doesn’t try to uphold core values, employees are less likely to take these values seriously. And when leaders’ actions violate corporate values, this can seriously affect employee morale. Employees may become disengaged or leave the organisation for a healthier working environment.

If your customers learn that your company isn’t living up to its core values, they may also form a negative impression of your company. They may decide to take their business elsewhere. In the worst-case scenario, severe violations of core values can lead to a public relations crisis.

How to address violations of core values

As the examples above show, violating core values can have serious consequences – especially if it’s the leaders doing it. HR needs to have a stringent policy toward workplace discrimination. After all, employees will feel safer if they know that HR can handle workplace harassment.

Interviewing for culture fit is also essential. Supervisors must know how to manage toxic employees, as well. They should address bad behaviour immediately and talk to the employee concerned.

Managers should include the company's core values in performance reviews. This way, employees know exactly what is expected of them, and have a chance to change their actions.

Robert Glazer, founder of Acceleration Partners, emphasises that keeping someone who doesn’t take your company’s values seriously can send a terrible message to the rest of the organisation. “Even if the employee is a top performer, the best companies cut the cord when they realise there is a culture or values mismatch,” he writes in an article for Inc.

Conclusion

Identifying your values is key to improving your well-being, as well as achieving personal and professional fulfilment. When you know your core values, you can focus on what matters to you. You can find the right career for you and live out your values at work. If you join a workplace that matches your values, you’ll feel more motivated to perform well. You’ll also find it easier to embody the company’s core values.

Are you ready for more career advice? Visit JobStreet’s Career Advice page. You can also download the JobStreet app on Google Play and the App Store for easier access.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

1. Can core values change over time?
   ⁠Yes. Your core values can change as you enter different stages of life or encounter different circumstances. Because of this, it’s helpful to review your core values occasionally. Some career coaches recommend reviewing your values every month, while others suggest doing it once a year.
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2. Is it possible to have too many core values?
   ⁠Yes. If you have too many core values, it can be challenging to prioritise and focus. When you first start identifying your values, list as many as possible. Then group them until you have a list of 5-10 values.
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3. Can core values be taught?
   ⁠To some degree, yes. Forbes Coaches council member Lori Harris says we develop our core values “through life experiences, familial patterns, social conditioning, and consumption of content, events, and opinions.”
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4. How can I ensure that my organisation’s core values align with my personal values?
   ⁠During your job search, research the core values of the companies you’re interested in. You can also see what current and former employees have to say about the company culture by checking the reviews on their Jobstreet profile. Lastly, ask about the company culture and values during your interviews.
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5. Can core values be in conflict with one another?
   ⁠Yes. Value conflicts can happen when two people have core values that clash. This can result in workplace conflict. You can manage employees with different personalities by keeping an open mind, giving your colleague the benefit of the doubt, and remembering that you’re on the same team.