WHAT ARE YOUR VALUES?

Listed are two sets of statements. The first list presents 10 terminal values. These are desirable end-states of existence. Think of them as goals that you might like to achieve during your lifetime. The second list presents 10 instrumental values. These are preferable modes of behavior, or means of achieving the terminal values. For each list, rank the statements according to how important each is to you personally. Score a "1" next to the value that is most important, a "2" next to the second most important, and so forth. Treat each list separately.

Terminal Values

Happiness; satisfaction in life

Knowledge and wisdom

Peace and harmony in the world

Pride in accomplishment

Prosperity; wealth

Lasting friendships

Recognition from peers

Salvation; finding eternal life

Security; freedom from threat

Self-respect

Instrumental Values

Assertiveness; standing up for yourself

Being helpful or caring toward others

Dependability; being counted upon by others

Education and intellectual pursuits

Hard work and achievement

Obedience; following the wishes of others

Open-mindedness; receptivity to new ideas

Self-sufficiency; independence

Truthfulness; honesty

Being well-mannered and courteous toward others

Values are basic convictions of what is right, good, or desirable. Your values reflect what you think is important. There are, of course, no right or wrong values. This self-assessment merely gives you some directive insights into your value structure.

Research demonstrates that people in the same occupation tend to hold similar values. For instance, a study of corporate managers found that they ranked self-respect and security as their top-rated terminal values. For instrumental values, these same corporate managers rated truthfulness first, followed by dependability.

It may be helpful to assess your value structure in terms of your career aspirations. Specifically, to what degree do you think your values align with those of successful people in the field to which you aspire?