Values

Have your values changed over time?  Do you notice a difference in your values when at different jobs or volunteer positions?

Non negotiable Values: I have always had “making a difference “ as a work value.  It is what I call my non-negotiable value.  I had ONE job that I was good at doing but could not sleep at night when I worked there.  I was working as telephone solicitor and realized I was representing a company that did not make a difference; they just said they did.  It was a powerful experience.

Find a Way Values: When my creativity value is not being met at work, I find myself getting very creative with my cooking.  I have seen this same thing happen for my clients.  I worked with an admin assistant who could type 120 words per minute.  She didn’t place value on her speed, she thought it was much more valuable that her documents looked like works of art.  She kept physically describing how they looked.  Her art/creativity was a find –a –way value.

2^nd Best Values: When my leadership or recognition values are not being met (they are secondary in my list), I find myself focusing on advancement through learning and increasing my knowledge.

Have you discovered your “non-negotiable” values? Noticed any “find-a-way” values?  Share your experiences with us.

Motivation Types

So now you have all 8 descriptions of the Motivation Types which are your top 2?  How does that line up with your work, your volunteer experiences, your partner?  My theory is our motivation also drives our choice of partner.

Anything in italics comes from Barbara Moses' book "What Next? The complete guide to taking control of your working life" 2003.  I highly recommend purchasing the book and completing the excercises in full.

There are strengths associated with each motivational type, as well as potential trouble spots and common conflicts.

Ideally work will satisfy both your major and minor motivators.  Commonly, however, our motivators may conflict.  Consider the following dilemmas.

“I want to get ahead (career builder) and I want to be available for my kids during the day (lifestyler).”

“I am easily bored (novelty seeker) and I want financial security (stability seeker).”

“I want to run my own show (autonomy seeker) and I want to be part of a team (sociability seeker).”

It would be great to hear if anyone has solutions to their conflicts. Thanks for sharing!

I was also wondering if anyone has found their motivations changing as they age?  Or are your motivations different from where you grew up?