There’s a lot of information coming at us everyday. There are news channels, news programs, news opinions, news debates, news feeds, Twitter news, LinkedIn news, news now, news at eleven, and every now and then, there’s actually something news-worthy.
Then we have advertising and advertorials and “advertainment”. We have ads coming at us from places we never imagined them existing — public bathrooms, the back of taxi seats, on-screen as we’re waiting in line anywhere and virtually 24/7 in the palm of our hand. According to CNet News, Facebook alone processes more than 500 terabytes of information daily.
So there’s no shortage of data for us to reference when weighing a decision. In fact, there’s too much. It’s getting increasingly more difficult to filter through all of the information, opinions, trends, advice and input that used to help us make clear and informed decisions.
So how do we attain clarity? Values-based decision making.
What are your personal values? What are your workplace’s values?
When you know the clear answers to those questions, then you have a rock solid foundation for making good decisions. Our values, whether personal or corporate, help us define what is most important to us: how we engage in the world; how we determine return on investment (It’s not always about the money.); how we treat our colleagues; how we treat our customers or how we contribute to community. Our values determine how we show up everyday.
Clear values provide a decision-making filter and framework for any problem. They trigger the questions that we can ask ourselves to ensure that our decisions are aligned with our values.
Shared values and values-based decision making create a level playing field for everyone involved. Personal biases, past experiences or bad data no longer overly influence the outcome of decisions. Instead, decisions are ultimately made through the filter of shared values, a shared culture and a shared belief system.
And if a decision is aligned with the shared values of the people making that decision, then everyone, even those that aren’t thrilled with the final outcome, can support the values that were applied to making the decision. This makes it easier for everyone to support the decision. And that leads to a more positive and productive workplace.
Most of us are navigating our way through a world intoxicated by information, choice and divergent opinions. But a culture of shared values helps to keep the path ahead calm and clear. When everyone on your team embraces a set of shared values and clearly understands what they stand for, then decision-making becomes a whole lot easier. Define your shared values and enjoy the clarity of better decisions.
~ Maureen Douglas, CPF-IAF
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