Guiding Values Inventory

Definition of Guiding Values

Guiding values are the key priorities that help you protect what matters most in order to move closer to your vision. These values represent what you need and want to safeguard—such as time, family, self-care, hobbies, health, freedom, people or financial stability.

Unlike general values, guiding values are not abstract but context-driven, specifically aimed at protecting what is essential for realizing your vision. Guiding values are values in action. They offer a quick reference point to answer the question: What do I need to prioritize in order to protect what I value and move closer to my vision?

What is the difference between guiding values and values in general?

Anything you ultimately care about, want to protect, derive fulfillment or find important can be a guiding value.

Core values are the fundamental principles that shape your identity or organizational culture and they can’t be taken away. Guiding values are the priorities you protect and use as decision-making tools in pursuit of your vision. Ultimately they could include anything you care about, where you derive joy or fulfillment.

If a core value is non-negotiable in achieving your vision, than it would be something you want to protect and prioritize. If it’s something you want to protect in order to move closer to your vision then it can be a guiding value.

Examples of Guiding Values in Action:

• If family is a something you value and your vision involves building a business that allows for more family time, then “family” becomes a guiding value you protect, influencing how you prioritize work-life balance or time management decisions.
• If you value innovation and your vision is to grow your business as a leader in cutting-edge technology, innovation could naturally become a guiding value in your decision-making.
• If having fun is important to you, it could influence how you build your team and how you allocate your time at home.
• If you care about health and wellness, it could influence decisions like setting work-life boundaries, implementing wellness programs for your team, or selecting clients and projects that support lifestyle focused on your mental health.
• If you value volunteer and advocacy work, it could guide decisions like dedicating time to community outreach, partnering with like-minded organizations (where you work or who you work with), or integrating social responsibility into your business model.

Don’t overthink it, think about YOU and what YOU care about most! What is non-negotiable? Your time, relationships, friends, peers, coworkers, clients, travel, innovative solutions, how you do something, process, strategy, brainstorming, problem solving, adaptability, stability, self-care, organizing, being present, recognition, outdoors, leadership, meditation, hobbies, communication, hobbies, volunteerism, teamwork…

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