Values...Your Hidden Energy Source

When you hear the word "values," what's the first thing that comes to mind?

For many of us, it's our sense of right and wrong. The moral compass that guides how we treat others and move through the world. That's not wrong, but it's only part of the picture.

I like to think of values as something more specific and personal. To me, they’re the things that matter most to us. Our non-negotiables. The core characteristics that make us…well us.

What many of us don't realize, is our values are also one of the most powerful (and overlooked) sources of energy in our careers. Not motivation. Not discipline. Energy. The kind that makes certain work feel almost effortless, and makes other work feel like wading through quicksand, even when nothing is technically wrong.

Values Aren't Just What We Believe. They're What Energizes Us.

I always like to clarify, values ≠ morals.

• Morals are our sense of right and wrong. They guide how we behave toward others and the world.

• Values are the things that matter most to us. They guide where we invest our time, attention, and energy.

They’re also what energize and fulfill us, even when we can’t explain why.

• When our work honors our values, it fills up our fuel tanks. We show up engaged, motivated, and energized. The effort feels worth it.

• When our values are ignored or violated, it drains us. We go through the motions, but we feel flat. We start to wonder what's missing.

That quiet, nagging sense that something's off? It's often our values trying to get our attention.

The Three Levels: Honored, Ignored, Violated

Not all values misalignment feels the same. Understanding the difference can help us recognize what's really happening, and what matters about it.

Let's use collaboration as an example. Bringing people together to achieve a common goal. It's a value that shows up in many people's lives, often without them having explicitly named it.

When a value is honored, the energy is unmistakable.

• Imagine leading a full-day group brainstorming session. The room is engaged. Ideas are building on each other. People are thinking out loud, challenging each other, arriving somewhere none of them could have gotten alone. Even after a long day, you leave the meeting feeling more energized than when you walked in, not despite the effort, but because of it.

• That's a value being honored, and the energy it creates is real.

When a value is ignored, the drain is subtler, but just as real.

• Imagine the same person, working from home for the day to complete a detailed report that’s due this week. They’re heads-down, no collaboration required. And while they recognize it’ll be a great opportunity to check an item off their to do list, something feels…flat. Nothing is technically wrong, but the motivation just isn't there. At the end of the day, they push through and get the report done. But they feel drained, like it cost more than it should have.

• That's not laziness or disengagement. It’s what it feels like when a core value isn't being honored. The tank begins to drain.

When a value is violated, the response is harsher.

• Imagine this same person working on a 6-month team project, and absolutely thriving. They’ve been bringing teams together, expanding their network, and connecting the dots. Now today, their leader pulls them off the team and reassigns them to work on a six-month solo research project. No explanation, no input, no connection to the people or outcomes they care about. What starts as frustration, can quietly deepen into resentment. And if it persists long enough, into something heavier.

• When a core value is violated, it can announce itself loudly, and continue to accumulate until the weight of it becomes impossible to ignore.

Why This Matters More Than We Think

Most of us were never taught to think about our work through the lens of values. We were taught to be capable. To say “yes”. To put our heads down and make things work.

So when we feel energized or drained by our work, our first instinct is often to look outward, at our assignments, our leaders, our team, our circumstances. Rarely do we ask, how are my values being honored here?

That question changes things. Because once we understand and connect with our values, we start to see our energy differently. We notice what fills us up and what depletes us. We recognize the signals our work is sending us, signals we may not have been tuned into.

And most importantly, we can begin to make intentional choices from that awareness.

Connecting With Your Values

Values clarification doesn't require a personality test or a weekend retreat. It starts with reflection — and the right questions.

Here are two exercises worth trying:

Replay a peak moment.

Think of a time when you felt truly alive in your work. Energized. In the flow or zone. Like everything was clicking. Then, reflect on these questions:

• What was happening? Get as specific as possible.

• What about that experience was so important / felt so meaningful?

• What values were being honored?

Replay a drained moment.

Now think of a time when you felt the opposite. Flat, frustrated, disengaged — even if nothing was technically wrong. Then reflect on these questions:

• What was happening? Get as specific as possible.

• What felt missing or off about it?

• What values were being ignored or violated?

Our values live in both experiences, but the contrast between them often brings them to life more clearly. Not in abstract lists or self-assessments, but in the moments that make us feel most — and least — like ourselves.

A Note on Values and Decision-Making

Once we're clear on our values, they become more than just a source of self-awareness. They become a filter. A way to evaluate opportunities, navigate change, and make choices that are aligned.

We'll explore that more in a future post. For now, the first step is simply getting honest about what energizes us, and starting to pay attention to what that's trying to tell us.

Ready to Explore What This Looks Like for You?

Values clarification is one of the most energizing parts of coaching work. When we connect with what truly matters to us, something shifts. Not just in how we think about our careers, but in how we show up in them.

If you're ready to explore what your values are telling you, I'd love to connect. Schedule a free consultation and let's find out what's next for you.