Getting It Together!: VALUES Objectives: Determine the meaning of values. Determine the meaning of values. Examine the importance of values to leaders. Examine the importance of values to leaders. Explore how our values are determined. Explore how our values are determined. Examine the ways our values are demonstrated to others. Examine the ways our values are demonstrated to others.

Values Define “values”. Define “values”. About.com says, “Values are traits or qualities that are considered worthwhile; they represent your highest priorities and deeply held driving forces. About.com says, “Values are traits or qualities that are considered worthwhile; they represent your highest priorities and deeply held driving forces. Wikipedia says, “Values are broad preferences concerning appropriate courses of action or outcomes.” Wikipedia says, “Values are broad preferences concerning appropriate courses of action or outcomes.” They reflect a person’s sense of what right and wrong ought to be. They reflect a person’s sense of what right and wrong ought to be. They influence attitudes and behaviors. They influence attitudes and behaviors.

Examples of Values Belief in hard work, punctuality, ambition, integrity, honesty, loyalty, responsibility, persistency, optimism, dependability, self-reliance, and empathy. Belief in hard work, punctuality, ambition, integrity, honesty, loyalty, responsibility, persistency, optimism, dependability, self-reliance, and empathy.

Values are statements… …about what you stand for and what is important to you. …about what you stand for and what is important to you. Values are your personal bottom line. Values are your personal bottom line. They are the way we can measure who you really are. They are the way we can measure who you really are. Our values give direction to everything we do. They’re the basis for every decision we make…every action we take. Our values give direction to everything we do. They’re the basis for every decision we make…every action we take. Everything you do says something about what you value! Everything you do says something about what you value!

Why do you…? …participate in athletics? …participate in athletics? …in band? …in band? …in student council? …in student council? …in whatever it is you do? …in whatever it is you do? Do you cuss? Do you cuss in front of other people? Do you cuss? Do you cuss in front of other people? What does this have to do with your values? Are you going to continue to do that? What does this have to do with your values? Are you going to continue to do that?

I just want you to understand that everything you say, everything you do…says something about what you value! I just want you to understand that everything you say, everything you do…says something about what you value! People are watching you just as you watch others. People are watching you just as you watch others. I wonder what they’re seeing? I wonder what they’re seeing?

Ways Our Values are Demonstrated 1) The way we spend our time. If I say I value my children, but the first thing I do when I get home every night is sit down, turn on the T.V. and ignore my kids…then perhaps I don’t really value my children! I’m fooling myself…but I’m not fooling my kids!

Ways Our Values are Demonstrated 2) The way we spend our money. If I say I care about the poor, but my checkbook doesn’t show that I give to any charitable foundations that help them…if I’m not actively involved in feeding, clothing and educating them…then maybe I don’t really care about the poor as much as I’d like to believe I do!

Ways Our Values are Demonstrated 3) The way we treat other people. If I say I love family, but I come home every night and yell at, beat, and abuse my husband and children…then I don’t really love and value my family! I’m just a noise-maker…a bag of hot air…saying things I obviously don’t believe. ** You see these three things tell me a lot about what’s really important to you. If we do not live up to our values, then we are phonies…we’re hypocrites!

Moments of Truth When I use the term “moment of truth”, what do you think about? When I use the term “moment of truth”, what do you think about? Moments of truth are like windows into your real motives. Moments of truth are like windows into your real motives. They are situations that arise where you have choices. We can see who you really are by looking at the choices you make in that situation. They are situations that arise where you have choices. We can see who you really are by looking at the choices you make in that situation. An example of a moment of truth for you might be when you find a wallet loaded with money and credit cards that someone has lost. An example of a moment of truth for you might be when you find a wallet loaded with money and credit cards that someone has lost. Your decision about what to do with the wallet is the window into who you really are. Your decision about what to do with the wallet is the window into who you really are. It’s that point that I discover what you truly value! It’s that point that I discover what you truly value!

Values in Action I think it’s true that we often make very poor decisions simply because we are unclear about our values! I think it’s true that we often make very poor decisions simply because we are unclear about our values! Are people watching you? Yes, you bet they are! Are people watching you? Yes, you bet they are! Can you see someone’s values? Can you see someone’s values?

Maybe we can’t actually see their values, but we can surely see what they value…by watching how they behave, listening to their opinions, and looking at their attitudes. When we see coaches breaking recruiting rules, or politicians doing illegal things for personal gain, or people making profit off of another’s misfortune, or business people cheating on taxes…we are seeing their values! Maybe we can’t actually see their values, but we can surely see what they value…by watching how they behave, listening to their opinions, and looking at their attitudes. When we see coaches breaking recruiting rules, or politicians doing illegal things for personal gain, or people making profit off of another’s misfortune, or business people cheating on taxes…we are seeing their values!

I wonder… As we look at what is happening in America today, I wonder what we would say about this country’s values? As we look at what is happening in America today, I wonder what we would say about this country’s values? What do you think? What do you think? Have our values changed in this country over the last 30 years or so? Have our values changed in this country over the last 30 years or so?

I wonder… I have to wonder what the epidemic of AIDS and other sexually- transmitted diseases says about our nation’s values? And what about the dramatic increase in violent crime…especially among our teenagers! Or what about the increasing number of illiterate kids graduating from high school and the declining test scores we’re seeing? I have to wonder what the epidemic of AIDS and other sexually- transmitted diseases says about our nation’s values? And what about the dramatic increase in violent crime…especially among our teenagers! Or what about the increasing number of illiterate kids graduating from high school and the declining test scores we’re seeing? And what about the increasing rate of teen pregnancy? What about the rise of gang activity we are continuing to see? And what about the increasing rate of teen pregnancy? What about the rise of gang activity we are continuing to see?

I wonder… I believe that these things tell us a great deal about the values American has embraced. It’s been said before that, “A tree is judged by its fruit.” I think that’s true of people and countries, too, and if it is…then what kind of fruit are you producing? I believe that these things tell us a great deal about the values American has embraced. It’s been said before that, “A tree is judged by its fruit.” I think that’s true of people and countries, too, and if it is…then what kind of fruit are you producing?

I wonder… And if the fruit of our lips are the words we speak, then I wonder what they tell us about ourselves? And if the fruit of our lips are the words we speak, then I wonder what they tell us about ourselves? What do our actions tell us about what we really believe? What do our actions tell us about what we really believe? I wonder…are we really who we say we are? I wonder…are we really who we say we are?

Values…what we stand for… our personal bottom line! Video: “Winning the Culture War”, speech by Charlton Heston. Video: “Winning the Culture War”, speech by Charlton Heston. Part 1 Part 1 Part 1 Part 1 Part 2 Part 2 Part 2 Part 2 “Lots of people have morals. Lots of people have courage. But few have moral courage. It takes moral courage to take a stand when it costs you something.”-Flip Flippen “Lots of people have morals. Lots of people have courage. But few have moral courage. It takes moral courage to take a stand when it costs you something.”-Flip Flippen How does this quote relate to Charleton Heston’s reference to when he spoke at the Time/Warner stockholders’ meeting? How does this quote relate to Charleton Heston’s reference to when he spoke at the Time/Warner stockholders’ meeting?