This is one of the frameworks I use to help make decisions.
Because here’s the thing…
Making big decisions can be tough.
There’s no two ways about it.
So I’m always on the hunt for things which can help.
And this is one of the more interesting ways I know.
Let’s take a look…
The key point here is that decisions are guided by our values.
But our values can be hard to pin down.
We might not know what we value…
We might know what we value, but not know to what extent…
And our values can change over time.
I’m going to delve into these a bit deeper.
Firstly, not everyone knows what they value.
And I’m not surprised.
I don’t think I do too. Not fully.
It’s not something you learn at school or get asked about that much.
And if you don’t know consciously what you value, your values stay subconscious.
And guess what?
Your decisions and actions will be subconsciously motivated too.
It’s only when we connect with our values consciously that we make more informed decisions.
So how do you find your values?
There are exercises you can use (and I have one in my book).
But another good way is by noticing how you act day to day.
Do you always answer the phone when your partner calls?
You might value relationships and family over productivity (or distraction over concentration).
Do you tend to stay quiet in team meetings?
You might value reflection and listening over contribution and talking.
I suggest keeping an eye on things like this…
As there are always clues available.
Secondly, values can be ranked.
For instance, you might value fun and health…
But you almost certainly value one of these more highly than the other.
This is another reason decisions can be tough.
Decisions aren’t based on whether you hold a certain value…
But to what extent you hold that value vs another value (or multiple values).
For example…
You might value contribution and teamwork…
And these feature in your job.
But if you value creativity and financial wealth as well…
And these are missing from your job…
You’ll need to balance these values to decide whether to make a change.
In other words, the reasons for staying in a job aren’t the opposite of reasons for leaving.
Noticing day to day actions can help give clues about your value hierarchy too.
I know I value fun and health…
But if I had to choose between a big night out or a good night’s sleep…
I’d mostly choose getting a good night’s sleep.
Of course, there are other values at play in this example too…
Like connection, friendship and meeting new people.
But hopefully you get the point.
Interestingly, a few years ago I would’ve chosen the big night out…
And this takes me on to the third point:
Our values can change.
This happens as we get older, have more experiences and gain more knowledge.
So a decision made today might have a different outcome if it was made two years ago…
Or three years from now.
But the truth is...
We can only base decisions on our values when we make them.
Otherwise we won't make any decisions at all.
Anyway…
I think I’m going to wrap this up before it goes any longer.
Hopefully some of this was useful.
That’s it for today.
Speak soon.
- Tom