Aligning Personal Values With Your Social Impact Career: Achieving Greater Career Satisfaction and a Tool to Help you Identify your Core Values
Nurturing a career that not only matches your professional ambitions but also resonates with your personal values is the cornerstone of success in the realm of social impact. In an industry where compassion fatigue, misalignment burnout, and secondary traumatic stress are prevalent, combined with the natural identity shifts that come with personal and professional growth, life transitions and ageing, social impact professionals should be pausing to reflect on their core values. Simply because we joined this sector for a variety of idealistic, opportunistic, or values-aligned reasons months, years or decades ago, does not mean that this value proposition for our careers and lives still resonates.
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This fusion of beliefs and workplace ethos isn't just about job satisfaction—it's about unlocking your full potential within any social impact organization. Are you rolling your eyes? In all honestly, I probably would have done so reading that sentence a few years ago - unlocking your full potential. I used to firmly believe that it was unexceptional that my entire identity was enshrined in my career, wearing 60-hour work weeks like a badge of honour, and that this was just the norm for our sector. I used to believe this was the price to pay to move up the ladder as a female in today’s world, to be respected, and to thrive professionally across the social impact industry more broadly - I now know better.
Drawing from my diverse two-decade journey as a social impact executive, I have witnessed both triumphs and burnouts, including my own rollercoaster ride of exhaustion and self-discovery back in 2023. But hey, every setback is an opportunity for growth, right? That's why I've made it my mission to guide others through the pitfalls and perils of the nonprofit, humanitarian and development, and social impact sectors. And you know what? It all starts with aligning those personal values.
Understanding Personal Values in the Context of Social Impact
Ever stop to ponder what really drives your decisions, shapes your beliefs, and guides your actions - both personally and professionally? Those are your personal values—the fundamental beliefs that help you steer your life. They are like your North Star, helping you navigate the murky waters of right and wrong. Some examples of core personal values include: integrity, compassion, equality, creativity, independence, family, community, health, learning, and the list goes on and on. Take social entrepreneurs, they may have personal values around innovation, resilience and adaptability, whereas humanitarian aid workers may have core values around compassion, combatting inequity, and respect for human dignity. Personal values are incredibly diverse, and their magic lies in synching up with the values of the organizations we are part of, especially in the realm of social impact.
The Formation of Personal Values: A Journey of Self-Discovery
Defining our core values is a bit like embarking on an epic quest, influenced by our upbringing, experiences, and a hefty dose of soul-searching. And guess what? Our values are not stagnant, they mature with age, evolving to better align with our ever-changing selves. It's a dynamic dance where old values might take a bow, and new ones take the limelight, all in the pursuit of making a dent in our social impact ambitions. Ready to dive deep into this journey? I've got just the tool for you. Check out my customized workbook, Career Clarity: 5 Steps to Help You Define Your Purpose. It's full of exercises to help you find your purpose, starting with a first exercise to identify your core values.
The Benefits of Value Alignment in Social Impact Careers
Picture this: the core principles of an organization shape its very DNA, dictating how decisions are made and culture is nurtured. Now, when individuals with aligned values comprise the culture, they infuse the company with a sense of purpose, creating a powerhouse team that's laser-focused on common goals. This synergy doesn't just boost productivity - it supercharges the organization's ability to make a dent in the social impact arena. But wait, there's more. Aligning personal and organizational values isn't just about warm fuzzies - it’s a secret sauce for catapulting job satisfaction, engagement, and overall well-being. It's the stuff dreams are made of in the world of social impact careers.
Syncing up your personal values with your organization's isn't just a feel-good exercise, it's a game-changer. It shields you from burnout, ramps up job satisfaction, and enhances your effectiveness. Plus, it's like hitting the jackpot in the life balance lottery (known to many as work-life balance, although I shy away from this term), giving you the autonomy to thrive both personally and professionally.
Strategies for Achieving Value Alignment in Your Social Impact Career
So how can we all embark on this journey of merging personal and organizational values for social good? See below five strategies for achieving alignment.
Self-reflection: First up, let's get reflective. Dive deep into your values to ensure they're in sync with potential employers in the social impact realm. Research, probe, and use your spidey senses during interviews to suss out value alignment. And remember, values can evolve, so stay nimble and trust your gut.
Leverage your professional network for insights, feedback and soul-reviving discussions. Trusting your intuition while also seeking outside perspectives can guide you in finding an organization whose mission resonates with your personal values. Remember to seek guidance and opinions from those whom you respect, and who know you well.
Find a balance between your ideals and the realities of the job market: Striking that delicate balance between your ideals and the real world may be challenging, perfection may not exist, so be open to opportunities that may lead you to organizations where alignment ends up being (surprisingly) strong - our preconceived notions and biases do not always do us justice.
Adaptability: Recognize that your values will evolve and pivot, based on experiences, life circumstances and maturity, so be open to adjusting your career path accordingly. Stay adaptable and flexible, allowing room for growth and change in both your personal and professional life. However, keep in mind there are seasons of life, and life-altering decisions should not be made on a whim, after one bad day, but rather after periods of deep reflection, from a calm frame of mind.
Question narratives: Challenge any limiting beliefs or preconceptions you may have about value alignment in your career. Stay open-minded and willing to explore opportunities that may not align perfectly with your values on the surface, as sometimes the best fit isn't immediately obvious. Keeping an open mind, challenging limiting beliefs, and questioning the narratives in your head is crucial, as we often tell ourselves ‘stories’ and have been doing so for years, oftentimes established early on in childhood.
Ready To Take Your Next Step In Your Social Impact Career? I Can Help.
Embarking on a journey to align personal values with a career in social impact requires more than just passion and commitment - it requires guidance, experience, and a deep understanding of the intricate relationship between personal beliefs and professional aspirations.
As someone who has navigated the complex landscape of global health, humanitarian action, corporate social responsibility, and strategic advisory, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of aligning personal values with professional endeavors (and the disastrous outcome of ignoring your values, to simply soldier on). My nearly two decades of experience span from hands-on health programmatic work with marginalized populations across the globe, to leading a social impact consulting firm based out of Geneva. This journey wasn't just about advancing my career; it was a quest for meaningful, impactful work that resonated with my core values.
Whether you are just starting out or seeking a more profound connection between your work and your personal values, my journey offers insights and lessons that can support you as you navigate your career journey. From working across refugee camps and health clinics in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia to strategic boardrooms of Europe, my experiences have shaped a unique perspective on creating impact through alignment of values and work.
Are you ready to align your personal values with your professional goals in the social impact sector? Are you seeking to transform not only your career but also your approach to work and life? Join me as we explore the path to achieving a career that resonates deeply with your personal values and ambitions. Let's embark on this journey together, leveraging my experiences, insights, and dedication to coaching and empowerment to unlock the full potential of your career in social impact.
“Your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.” - Mahatma Gandhi, lawyer, politician, and activist in the struggle for social justice and for India's independence from British rule
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