Can your work be impacted by your personal values?

Liz Makin Author

Apr 27, 2026 |

A look at the inter relationships between your personal values and your work.

What are personal values?

Your values describe what is important to you in the way you live your life. 

Examples of values include authentic, accuracy, compassion, creativity, family oriented, financial security, fun, happiness, healthiness, independence, kindness, loyalty, modesty, openness, optimism, perfection, perseverance, privacy, professionalism, respect, spontaneity, success and trust.

Everyone has a different set of values with varying degrees of importance given to each value. You may be conscious and aware of your values or you may not be consciously aware of them but act on them. You are likely to feel fulfilled when you live your life in line with your values. However where your values are in conflict with each other or how you are living your life you may feel stressed and unhappy.

Can your work be impacted by your personal values?

Your personal values can impact your work in many ways. Here are some of them:

1. Support and energise your work. If your values are aligned with your work they will support and energise your work. If some of your values are aligned, but others are not, you will be happy with only elements of your work. Look at how you can align your remaining values with your work.

2. Conflict with your work. You will probably feel stressed and unsettled if some or all of your values conflict with your work. Consider your values that are currently conflicting with your work and take action to change the situation.

3. Create stress at work. If you feel stressed at work it is important to understand the root cause of the stress. One cause could be a disconnect between your values and your work, so if you are stressed at work consider a disconnect between your values and what is happening at work.

4. Impact your workplace relationships. Poor relationships and conflict may arise if your values and those of the person you are dealing with at work are different. For better relationships, try and move conversations from individual positions and values to work as a whole and what is important to you both.

5. Tell you if are in the right role or company. You may be in the wrong role or company if you are finding it difficult to honour your values at work. Review your values against your role and responsibilities and also against the company values for areas of disconnect and see if these can be aligned or whether it is time to look for a different role.

6. Create issues between your work and personal life. If your values are not being honoured in both your work and life there may be conflict between the two areas. Consider whether your values are only being honoured in one area and look at ways to align them together.

7. Conflict with each other. Your individual values may conflict with each other at work. Consider areas of conflict between your individual values and take action to increase alignment.

8. Influence your working style and behaviour. Your values will influence your working style and behaviour. If you have a lack of awareness of your values your style and behaviour may be inconsistent and erratic and your decision making may be difficult to understand. Consider your values and how they may be influencing your working style and behaviour and look for areas that you need to work on for the better.

How are your personal values impacting you at work?

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Categories: : Online courses, Personal development, Soft skills, Work