Values and BeliefsValues and Beliefs

What is a value?What is a value?

Qualities, characteristics, or ideas about which Qualities, characteristics, or ideas about which we feel strongly.we feel strongly.

Our values affect our decisions, goals and Our values affect our decisions, goals and behavior.behavior.

A belief or feeling that someone or something is A belief or feeling that someone or something is worthwhile.worthwhile.

Values define what is of worth, what is Values define what is of worth, what is beneficial, and what is harmfulbeneficial, and what is harmful

Values are standards to guide your action, Values are standards to guide your action, judgments, and attitudes.judgments, and attitudes.

You have been given a check for You have been given a check for $1000.00 to do whatever you like with it. $1000.00 to do whatever you like with it. What would you do with it?What would you do with it?

Share with the class what you would do with it.Share with the class what you would do with it.

Conclusion:Conclusion:

What you spend the money on has What you spend the money on has everything to do with what you valueeverything to do with what you value

What things did you do during the What things did you do during the past week.past week.

What you choose to do with your time also What you choose to do with your time also has everything to do with what you values.has everything to do with what you values.

Hypocrite – One who subscribes to one Hypocrite – One who subscribes to one set of values, and does another.set of values, and does another.

Immaturity - One who has not Immaturity - One who has not identified his values.identified his values.

Immaturity:Immaturity: Unclear valuesUnclear values DriftersDrifters FlightyFlighty UncertainUncertain ApatheticApathetic

MaturityMaturity Clear valuesClear values Life of purposeLife of purpose Meaning and directionMeaning and direction

Direction: Direction: Values – Goals – Behavior – Self-valueValues – Goals – Behavior – Self-value

Values give direction and consistency to Values give direction and consistency to behavior.behavior.

Values help you know what to and not to Values help you know what to and not to make time for.make time for.

Values establish a relationship between Values establish a relationship between you and the world.you and the world.

Values set the direction for one’s life. Values set the direction for one’s life.

Where do we get values?Where do we get values?

our homes,our homes, school,school, society,society, friends,friends, TV,TV, church, church, music,music, books,books, families,families,

culture,culture, employers,employers, time-period in which time-period in which

you were raised (70’s you were raised (70’s anti-establishment, anti-establishment, peace, individuality. peace, individuality. 80’s money, prestige, 80’s money, prestige, don’t get caught, etc. don’t get caught, etc. 90’s earth, green 90’s earth, green peace, health and peace, health and fitness), etc.fitness), etc.

Your age will greatly influence your values. Your age will greatly influence your values. Different people and things influence you at Different people and things influence you at

different ages:different ages:

Ages 1-7 --- parentsAges 1-7 --- parents Ages 8-13 --- teachers, heroes (sports, Ages 8-13 --- teachers, heroes (sports,

rocks, TV)rocks, TV) Ages 14-20 --- peers (values because of Ages 14-20 --- peers (values because of

peers or peers because of values?)peers or peers because of values?) Ages 21+ your values are established, but Ages 21+ your values are established, but

you may test your values from time to time.you may test your values from time to time.

Value versus Facts:Value versus Facts:

Values are things we feel Values are things we feel “should”, “ought”, or “are “should”, “ought”, or “are supposed to” influence our supposed to” influence our lives. lives.

VALUE: All people should be VALUE: All people should be active in a specific religion.active in a specific religion.

VALUE: The best time to buy VALUE: The best time to buy clothing is when the price is clothing is when the price is discounted.discounted.

A value is a statement of one’s A value is a statement of one’s personal beliefs. personal beliefs.

Facts simply state what Facts simply state what actually are. It is easy to actually are. It is easy to confuse values with facts.confuse values with facts.

FACT: Many people are active in FACT: Many people are active in a specific religion.a specific religion.

FACT: The most economical time FACT: The most economical time to buy clothing is when the to buy clothing is when the seasons change and the price seasons change and the price is reduced.is reduced.

A fact is established by A fact is established by observation and observation and measurement.measurement.

Values and Behaviors:Values and Behaviors:

Happiness comes from letting values Happiness comes from letting values decide your behavior and goals.decide your behavior and goals.

Values can change over a life-time as your Values can change over a life-time as your experiences change your view.experiences change your view.

How will we treat each other? How will we treat each other?

We each bring our backgrounds, beliefs, values, talents We each bring our backgrounds, beliefs, values, talents and behaviour standards to work. Taken together, these and behaviour standards to work. Taken together, these define how we treat others and how we expect to be define how we treat others and how we expect to be treated. They define what makes each of us unique. treated. They define what makes each of us unique.

To respect diversity is to recognize each individual for To respect diversity is to recognize each individual for his/her unusual and unique talents. These talents are as his/her unusual and unique talents. These talents are as multifaceted and complex as the individual they belong multifaceted and complex as the individual they belong to. Learning how to deal with diversity involves acquiring to. Learning how to deal with diversity involves acquiring some new skills. In fact, succeeding at work is very some new skills. In fact, succeeding at work is very difficult for those who are unable to collaborate with a difficult for those who are unable to collaborate with a diverse group of people. diverse group of people.

Diversity by itself doesn't make an Diversity by itself doesn't make an organization strong or successful. Dealing organization strong or successful. Dealing with diversity in a healthy, productive and with diversity in a healthy, productive and proactive manner, however, can help a proactive manner, however, can help a school or person succeed. school or person succeed.

Diversity includes: Diversity includes:

People of different genders People of different genders People with diverse ethnic, racial and cultural People with diverse ethnic, racial and cultural

backgrounds backgrounds People of different ages and experiences People of different ages and experiences People with different abilities People with different abilities People with different sexual orientations People with different sexual orientations People who practice different religions People who practice different religions People who speak different languages People who speak different languages People with different family structures People with different family structures People with different educational backgrounds People with different educational backgrounds People with different work and life experiences People with different work and life experiences

Words that relate to culture Words that relate to culture and valuesand values

adaptiveadaptiveafraidafraidAfricanAfricanalternativealternativeAmericanAmericananxious anxious articulatearticulateAsianAsianassertiveassertiveathleticathleticbilingualbilingualbisexual bisexual BuddhistBuddhistcalendarcalendarCatholicCatholicChristianChristian

confidentconfidentcooperative cooperative creativecreativedreamerdreameremotionalemotionalethicalethicalEuropeanEuropeanfamily orientedfamily orientedfeministfeministflexibleflexiblefolksyfolksyfrugal frugal funnyfunnygaygay

generousgeneroushelpfulhelpfulheterosexualheterosexualHinduHinduHispanic Hispanic honesthonesthospitablehospitableinnovativeinnovativeintelligentintelligentIslamicIslamicJewish Jewish kindkindLatinoLatinoliberalliberal

listenerlistenermachomachomarriedmarriedNativeNativepersonalpersonalphysicallyphysicallychallenged challenged privateprivateproactiveproactiveprofessionalprofessionalproperproperProtestantProtestantradical radical religiousreligiousrigidrigid

sensitivesensitiveSikhSikhsinglesinglesuccessful successful supportivesupportivetalkativetalkativewhitewhite

Write the words in the diagram below. Write the words in the diagram below.

Words that describe who I amWords that describe who I am

Words have tremendous power. Look at Words have tremendous power. Look at the words you have chosen and answer the words you have chosen and answer the questions posed below about your the questions posed below about your selections.selections.

1.1. How do the words you selected reflect you and How do the words you selected reflect you and the values that are important to you? the values that are important to you?

2.2. Are there words on your list that might be Are there words on your list that might be misinterpreted by others? Which ones? misinterpreted by others? Which ones?

3.3. Did you list words that some people might Did you list words that some people might perceive as controversial? Which ones? perceive as controversial? Which ones?

4.4. Which words Which words describe you in association with other people and describe you in association with other people and

groups? groups? tell something about your personality? tell something about your personality? refer to your values? refer to your values? speak to your race, ethnicity, gender, sexual speak to your race, ethnicity, gender, sexual

orientation or your abilities? orientation or your abilities?

5.5. What strengths are represented in your What strengths are represented in your culture and values profile? culture and values profile?

6.6. How might these strengths contribute to How might these strengths contribute to your success at work? your success at work?

Understanding respectUnderstanding respect

Operationally, culture is defined as shared Operationally, culture is defined as shared values, beliefs, expectations, attitudes, values, beliefs, expectations, attitudes, assumptions and norms. These are assumptions and norms. These are seldom written down or discussed; rather seldom written down or discussed; rather they are learned by living the organization they are learned by living the organization and becoming part of it.and becoming part of it.

The most basic value that each person needs to The most basic value that each person needs to practice in the workplace is respect. Without that, practice in the workplace is respect. Without that, nothing else works. We don't have to like each nothing else works. We don't have to like each other, but we do have to respect each other. other, but we do have to respect each other.

1.1. What behaviours help you feel that you are What behaviours help you feel that you are respected? respected?

2.2. What do people do that can make you feel that What do people do that can make you feel that you aren't being respected, or that your values you aren't being respected, or that your values are minimized or ignored? are minimized or ignored?

3.3. How can you positively inform others of the How can you positively inform others of the importance of your values to you? importance of your values to you?

4.4. How do you act when others don’t show respect How do you act when others don’t show respect towards you? towards you?

5.5. How does your reaction help others understand How does your reaction help others understand why you are uncomfortable or angry? why you are uncomfortable or angry?

Understanding what respect means to each of Understanding what respect means to each of us is a starting point to help us see the us is a starting point to help us see the importance of treating others respectfully. The importance of treating others respectfully. The beginning of this section mentions that learning beginning of this section mentions that learning how to deal with diversity involves acquiring how to deal with diversity involves acquiring some new skills. Many of these skills are directly some new skills. Many of these skills are directly related to communication, some to practicing related to communication, some to practicing ethical behaviour, and others to carrying out our ethical behaviour, and others to carrying out our work in a professional manner work in a professional manner

Confront prejudices and stereotypes that demean or Confront prejudices and stereotypes that demean or exclude people. exclude people.

Believe in yourself and your values. Believe in yourself and your values. Be a learner. Be a learner. Be an advocate for others. Be an advocate for others. Be sensitive to the impact you have on others. Be sensitive to the impact you have on others. Respect others' dignity, values, beliefs and feelings. Respect others' dignity, values, beliefs and feelings. Communicate honestly. Communicate honestly. Never harass or accept the harassment of others. Never harass or accept the harassment of others. Recognize that as humans, we all make mistakes. Recognize that as humans, we all make mistakes.