How to Clarify Your Values for a Smooth Career Transition

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What if the first step to building a fulfilling career and life was something you already carry within you—your values?

As a certified career coach specializing in working with emerging leaders in transition, I’ve seen time and again how clarifying your values serves as the foundation not only for successful career transitions but ultimately for living a fulfilling life.

In this article, we’ll explore why identifying your values is so important, how values connect to your greater purpose beyond work, and how to uncover your top values. 

Prefer watching? Watch the full video version here

Why Values Matter

Values are like a compass—they guide your decisions, keeping you aligned with what feels authentic and fulfilling.

When it comes to career transitions, starting from your values allows you to make decisions from the inside out. This means getting to know yourself on a deeper level and understanding what truly matters to you.

I’ll share a quick story.

A young woman I worked with started her corporate career right after school. It was respectable, paid well, and looked great on paper. But she felt stuck and unfulfilled. Through coaching, she clarified her core values—like connection, learning, and challenge—and realized her role wasn’t meeting those needs. She decided to take time off to travel, which sparked a new curiosity about other cultures. A few months later, she went back to school to study journalism—a career that aligned with her values and brought her a sense of meaning.

Her story highlights how our values can guide us toward greater fulfillment. So, what exactly are values?

What Are Values?

Values are the principles that give your life meaning and purpose. They answer questions like:

• What’s most important to me?
• What are my nonnegotiables?

Your values influence how you make decisions and take action—both personally and professionally.

Examples of values might include joy, creativity, connection, or challenge. For me personally, freedom is a top value—it shapes everything from how I structure my career to decisions like traveling through Asia for seven months with people I love (here are some highlights!)

Values often transcend both our personal and professional lives, giving them deeper meaning.

The Tree Analogy

Think of values as the soil under a tree.

When the soil is rich, nurtured, and healthy, the roots grow strong, supporting healthy branches. Similarly, your values feed your actions and goals (the branches) and ultimately support your greater purpose (the tree’s reason for existing—whether to bear fruit, provide shade, or simply grow).

If the soil is neglected, the entire tree suffers. That’s why nurturing your values is so critical.

Even when life gets challenging, those external difficulties—like wind or storms—can strengthen the tree, making it more resilient over time.

Learning From Challenges

Even difficult experiences, like a toxic job or a strained relationship, can teach us about our values—if we take the time to listen.

For example:

• If you’ve felt micromanaged at work, that frustration might reveal how much you value autonomy.
• If you’ve worked in a competitive, isolated environment, you might realize that collaboration is a key value for you.

Regrets can also point to your values. For instance, if you regret not prioritizing family in the past, that may highlight how much you value connection.

When you encounter frustration or disappointment, ask yourself:

• What does this teach me about my values?
• What lesson can I take from this experience?

How to Identify Your Top Values

Now let’s work through a simple process to uncover your core values. And here’s a free PDF handout to guide your reflection.

Step 1: Identify Your Values

Start by brainstorming a list of what’s most important to you. You can refer to the free PDF handout, which includes a comprehensive list of values to inspire your reflection. Take a few minutes to scan through the list and highlight the words that resonate with you most.

Step 2: Categorize Your Values

Sort your values into three categories:

1. Must-haves: These are essential in your work and life.
2. Nice-to-haves: Important but not nonnegotiable.
3. Can live without: Values that aren’t a priority right now.

Step 3: Prioritize Your Must-Haves

From your list of must-haves, rank your top six core values. These are the principles that should guide your decisions moving forward.

Taking Action

Once you’ve clarified your values, start using them as a filter for decisions. Ask yourself:

• Does this opportunity align with my values?
• Does this environment support what matters most to me?

Values aren’t just abstract concepts—they’re meant to be lived.

 For example:

• If growth is a value, consider signing up for a class or seeking out opportunities that challenge you.
• If connection is a value, schedule regular time with loved ones.

What is one action you can take today that aligns with your values?

Closing

Clarifying your values is one of the first steps to creating a career and life that feel meaningful and aligned.

Thank you for taking the time to connect with what truly matters to you. 

Sending you lots of love.

Play this Guided Havening Meditation to align your actions with your values.