Bringing the Real You to Work: Why Values Matter More Than You Think
- Maxine Bryce
- Jul 5
- 2 min read
In fast-paced, high-pressure workplaces, people often chase performance targets and promotions — only to find success feels strangely hollow. Why? Because without clarity on personal values and purpose, goals can steer you in the wrong direction.
I’ve worked with thousands of professionals over the past 25 years, and one insight remains constant: when individuals and organisations align with their core values, everything works better — wellbeing improves, performance becomes more sustainable, and confidence grows.
Values are more than buzzwords. They are the internal drivers behind every decision, action, and goal. And yet, in many corporate settings, they’re rarely explored deeply.
Take David, a capable professional stuck in roles that looked good on paper but felt misaligned in reality. After working through my Values Process, he realised he wasn’t lacking business skills — he was working in environments that clashed with his core values. Today, he runs an international company built around what matters most to him — and he thrives.
Or Stuart, a senior manager whose core values of honesty, integrity, and family were in direct conflict with what his company asked of him. That internal misalignment led to stress, absenteeism, and ultimately, a serious health scare at just 40. When our values are in conflict with our environment, the cost is high, emotionally, physically, and professionally.
This is why revisiting your values is essential — not only to enhance performance, but to prevent disengagement and burnout.
So, what are values?
Values are what matter most to you — the things that drive your choices and energise your actions. They evolve over time and shift based on experience and context. Some common values include: growth, balance, freedom, family, honesty, and making a difference.
Many professionals can list a few values. Fewer know how to prioritise them. Even fewer know how to use them as a decision-making framework in high-pressure environments.
In my Values Discovery Process, I guide individuals and teams to uncover their real values (not the ones they think they should have), clarify purpose, and set meaningful goals. This process often reveals hidden conflicts, like the tension between success and freedom, which, when resolved, unlock new levels of energy, clarity, and focus.
When values, purpose, and goals are aligned, individuals feel more in flow, and organisations see the impact in engagement, retention, and productivity..
Three Simple Steps to Get Started:
1. List what truly matters to you. Include what’s currently present and what feels like it’s missing.
2. Prioritise your values. Compare them one by one to identify which are truly non-negotiable.
3. Reflect or debrief with a coach. This is where the real insight happens. Expert facilitation helps reveal patterns, resolve internal conflicts, and create clarity that lasts.
When leaders and employees understand what drives them, they make better decisions, show up more authentically, and lead with greater impact. A business aligned with its people’s values becomes a workplace where resilience, performance, and wellbeing thrive, not just coexist.
If this resonates, it might be time to revisit the foundation of your success: your values.
Ready to Align Your Work With What Truly Matters? Let’s start with your values.
Get in touch.
