Click here to open or download the Introduction for Assignment 1: Understanding Your Values. Click here to open or download the Assignment 1: Worksheet. This course requires use of Strayer Writing Sta

Assignment 1: Understanding Your Values

Due week 3 and worth 100 points.

“If you're going to build a great career, you had better have a strong foundation. It all comes back to the priorities and the values that you have in life. - Coach Gibbs

Understanding Your Values Worksheet

PART 1 IDENTIFY YOUR VALUES & GROUPS OF INFLUENCE

In the article What Self-Awareness Really Is (And How to Cultivate It) author Tasha Eurich states that “Research suggests that when we see ourselves clearly, we are more confident and more creative. We make sounder decisions, build stronger relationships, and communicate more effectively.” This worksheet will help you do just that.

In the table below, each row represents a group (past or present) that has influenced your values. Examples of these groups are your family, church, sports teams, profession, groups sharing common interests, etc. Select five of these groups and list them in the first column of the table.

For each of the groups, identify the following:

Three (3) positive behaviors that were learned and/or encouraged by the group. For example your teacher would always expect that you were on time or that you were assertive during class presentations.
Three (3) values that you learned from the group. For example someone could have learned from a church group to be compassionate or to speak up when one sees injustices.

1. Choose your values from the list provided in the Your Values Matter table. Scroll to the end of this assignment to find this table.

GROUP NAME	3 POSITIVE BEHAVIORS	3 VALUES LEARNED
Ex: Church	Volunteering, Working on a team, Being on time	Accountability, respect, teamwork (choose from the Your Values Matter table below)
(Type Group 1 here)
(Type Group 2 here)
(Type Group 3 here)
(Type Group 4 here)
(Type Group 5 here)

PART 2: RANK YOUR VALUES

How important is each value in your life? Using the “Understanding Your Values” table, choose 10 of your values and put each value in priority order - #1 matters most, #10 matters least. Be HONEST! It doesn’t matter how someone else would rank these values; it only matters how important they are to you! Remember, this is about SELF-awareness. Your goal is to identify the things that matter most to YOU!

In the article How to Live With Purpose, Identify Your Values and Improve Your Leadership, author Ann Loehr explains how your values give you a sense of purpose. The exercise below will help you focus on those values. Please complete the following in the table below:

List the values according to what matters most to you.
Provide a brief definition of what that values means to you in your own words.
Write a short sentence about the meaning of each value in the “why does this matter to me” column. (Ex: If “friendship” is one of your higher values, you might understand it [and yourself!] better by identifying WHY friendship is such a high priority for you.)

VALUES (most important to least important)	DEFINITION (what does it mean to me?)	WHY? (why does this value matter to me?)
Ex: Friendship	A special bond/connection between myself and another person.	Friends are valuable to me because we provide each other with support during the positive and difficult times in our lives. Friends also provide companionship.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

PART 3: UNDERSTANDING YOUR VALUES AND INFLUENCE

Now, review both tables. Write a reflection on how you think the groups in your life have helped you define your own values. Be sure to reference the material from class to support your response. What can you conclude?

Be sure to address the following:

How has this activity provided insight into the effect your groups of influence have on your personal values? Were you aware of the relationship between the two before doing this activity? Were you surprised by the amount of influence each group has? Explain why or why not.

Why is self-awareness so important in the journey to finding your purpose?

How did you determine your top three (3) values overall? Was it difficult to narrow it down? Explain your reasoning.

YOUR VALUES MATTER

Directions: For Part 1, choose from the list of values below.

accountability	competition	ethics	independence	recognition
achievement	conflict resolution	excellence	initiative	respect
adaptability	clarity	fairness	integrity	risk-taking
ambition	dialogue	family	job security	salvation
balance (home/work)	creativity	financial stability	humility	reliability
being the best	continuous learning	forgiveness	justice	personal growth
caring	courage	freedom	leadership	professional growth
clarity	ease with uncertainty	friendship	listening	safety
coaching/mentoring	education	future generations	making a difference	self-discipline
commitment	efficiency	generosity	openness	teamwork
community involvement	enthusiasm/ positive attitude	health	patience	risk-taking
compassion	entrepreneurial	humility	perseverance	trust
competence	environmental awareness	humor/ fun	personal fulfillment

Scoring Guide Assignment 1: Understanding Your Values

Criteria

Exemplary

90-100% A

Proficient

80-89% B

Fair

70-79% C

Meets Minimum Expectations

60-69% D

Unacceptable

Below 60% F

1. Identify the positive behaviors that were learned and/or encouraged in each group.

Weight: 15%

Identifies 3 positive behaviors that were learned and/or encouraged in each group.

Identifies only 2 positive behaviors that were learned and/or encouraged in each group.

Identifies only 1 positive behavior that was learned and/or encouraged in each group.

Does not identify the positive behaviors that were learned and/or encouraged in each group.

Did not submit.

2. Identify the values learned in each group

Weight: 15%

Identifies 3 values learned in each group.

Identifies only 2 values learned in each group.

Identifies only 1 value learned in each group.

Does not identify the values learned in each group.

Did not submit.

3. Rank your values from most important to least important with your personal definition and explanation.

Weight: 25%

Proficiently ranks values from most important to least important. Proficiently describes personal definition and explanation of why those values are important.

Thoroughly ranks values from most important to least important. Thoroughly describes personal definition and explanation of why those values are important.

Satisfactorily ranks values from most important to least important. Satisfactorily describes personal definition and explanation of why those values are important.

Did not rank values or provide personal definition or explanation of why values are important.

Did not submit.

4. Reflect on how you think the groups have helped you define your values.

Weight: 40%

Proficiently reflects on how the groups have helped define your own values. Includes three or more references from two or more sources of course material.

Demonstrates excellent understanding of the relationship between the positive behaviors and their impact on your own values.

Thoroughly reflects on how the groups have helped define your own values. Includes two references from one source of course material.

Demonstrates good understanding of the relationship between the positive behaviors and their impact on your own values.

Satisfactorily reflects on how the groups have helped define your own values. Includes one reference from one source of course material.

Logically, but not completely, demonstrates an understanding of the relationship between the positive behaviors and their impact on your own values.

Insufficiently reflects on how the groups have helped define your own values. Does not include any references from the course materials. Demonstrates minimal understanding of the relationship between the positive behaviors and the impact on your own values.

Does not reflect on how the groups have helped define your own values. Does not include any references from the course materials. Demonstrates no understanding of the relationship between the positive behaviors and the impact on your own values.

5. Write in a professional manner using proper grammar and spelling.

Weight: 5%

Writing is excellent.

Tone is professional and sophisticated. Shows logic, clarity, and consistent formatting.

Contains no spelling or grammatical errors.

Writing is mostly good.

Tone is professional.

Shows logic, clarity, and consistent formatting.

May contain few or no spelling and/or grammatical errors.

Writing is satisfactory.

Tone is somewhat professional.

Shows moderate logic, clarity, and/or consistent formatting.

May contain 2-4 spelling and/or grammatical errors.

Writing meets minimal standards.

Tone is not professional.

Lacks one or more of logic, clarity, and/or consistent formatting.

May contain more than 4 spelling and/or grammatical errors.

Writing does not meet minimal standards.

Tone is not professional.

Wholly lacking in logic, clarity, and/or consistent formatting. Contains many spelling and/or grammatical errors.