A521.5.1.RB_Core Workplace Value Assessment

Workplace Values Exercise

Rate the degree of importance that you place on each of the following workplace values using this scale:

1 = Very important to me
2 = Reasonably important to me
3 = Somewhat important to me
4 = Not important to me at all

I am interested in jobs and careers that include:

___3_ creating/building things
___1_ mental challenge/mentally demanding/problem-solving
___4_ physical challenge/physically demanding
___1_ opportunity for balance between work life and family life
___1_ flexibility in work structure
___2_ intellectual status, an acknowledged "expert" in a given field
___1_ order and structure
___2_ high degree of competition
___1_ integrity and truth
___1_ rewarding loyalty and dependability
___1_ having self-respect and pride in work
___1_ stability and security
___2_ strong financial compensation and financial rewards
___2_ being recognized for quality of work in a visible/public way
___1_ having a positive impact on others and society
___1_ using creativity, imagination; being innovative
___2_ variety and a changing work pace
___1_ professional development and on-going learning and growth
___3_ friendships and warm working relationships
___3_ teamwork and work groups
__4__  glamor, prestige, respect, or a level of social status
__3__ routine, predictable work projects
__2__ deadlines and time demand/pressure challenges
__2__ clear advancement tracks/opportunities for advancement
__2__ tranquility, comfort, and avoidance of pressure
__2__ dealing with the public/day-to-day contact with the public
__2__ using cutting edge or pioneering technologies or techniques
__2__ opportunities for supervision, power, leadership, influence
__2__ making decisions, having power to decide courses of action
__2__ respect, recognition, being valued
__2__ autonomy, independence, freedom
__2__ precision work with little tolerance for error
__3__ adventure and excitement

Your second step is to try and identify the 10 most important values to you. Circle each of these most important values from the list above.

Highlighted above (in no particular order)

Your third step is to now narrow down your list of 10 to the five core values you hold most sacred -- that you can't live without in your job/workplace -- and place them below: 

1.      Opportunity for balance between work life and family life

2.      Order and structure

3.      Having a positive impact on others and society

4.      Using creativity, imagination; being innovative

5.      Professional Development and on-going learning and growth

Now comes the tougher part. How well do your core values fit with your current job, career path, and employer -- and what, if anything, are you going to do about these results?
I am very lucky in that I work for an employer whose core values match mine very closely, but that hasn’t always been the case. In my past I have worked for organizations that were more like the robber baron types who were just out for themselves and not for the betterment of the company and or its employees. It was very important to me that when I started my career (post-college graduation) I was working with a company that had the following core values (in no particular order)

Opportunity for balance between work life and family life

Order and structure

Having a positive impact on others and society

Using creativity, imagination; being innovative

Professional Development and on-going learning and growth

When I started with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2010 I knew many good thing about the organization which helped in accepting the position I was offered. This institution provided me with the structure I value from a success organization as well as flexibility for the opportunity to balance work life and family life. I don’t want to feel as though I am chained to my desk without the ability to spend time with my friends, family and loved ones. ERAU also allows me on a daily basis to have a positive impact on not only my fellow colleagues but also with students who in turn impact the world around us. I think working with students in an educational setting is extremely rewarding. Not only is there structure with flexibility where I work I am also allowed to be creative. I might not necessarily have all of the right or best ideas but I have a lot of ideas and I like to be able to share them as often as I can. My current position doesn’t allow that to take place as much as I would like but I am trying to make a positive impact in other areas of the institution in order to show my value within my innovative way of thinking. Lastly ERAU allows for professional development. It was critical that I find an entry-level position out of college that would all me to grow and ERAU is a perfect example of that. Although I have not moved up or been promoted since I started in 2010 I have however started to network in other departments which could potentially lead me in a new direction.

All of these core values are constantly working together to ensure that their employees are happy and in turn providing our students with excellent customer service. It can be very difficult to find an organization like ERAU but when you do, it’s hard to leave.