80 Types of Values

Values are the beliefs and principles that are held by an individual, group, organization or culture. The following are common types of values.

Ambition

The motivation to do something with your life and the resources around you. Values related to ambition describe your mission, vision for the future and standards for behavior that you set for yourself or team.

Innovation	The principle that you will experiment with brave ideas to take leaps forward.
Greatness	Values related to overcoming mediocrity to do something that stands out.
Work Ethic	The principle that you work hard.
Art for Art's Sake	The principle that art is its own reward and needs no further justification. For example, a photographer who takes great photographs to take great photographs.
Competition	Values related to outcompeting such as Vince Lombardi's "Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.”
Change	Principles related to aggressive change such as challenging the status quo.
Leadership	Taking the lead as an individual, firm, group or society.
Selflessness	Acting in the interests of the greater good.
Epic Meaning	An issue, principle or goal that drives everything you do.
Identity	Defining you are or who you're not as an individual or organization. For example, Google's famous "Don't be evil" in its code of conduct.
Spirituality & Character	Personal values often relate to spirituality and character.
Creativity	Creativity related values such as the principle of preserving ambiguity whereby you avoid jumping to conclusions too early.
Passion	Professing a passion for your work or mission.
Courage	A pledge to be courageous in the face of problems, risk and uncertainty.
Speed	The principle that speed is important to your work.
Growth	Investing in the future to grow.
Risk Taking	Taking calculated risks.
Resilience	Resilience to stresses both at the personal level or as a society or organization.
Failure	Values related to learning from failure and continuing without loss of enthusiasm.

Performance

Performance values are principles related to your day-to-day work and results. They are often a promise for the value you will offer.

Reliability	A principle related to reliability such as an insurance agent who is always available when a customer has a problem.
Diligence	A commitment to direct your full energy and concentration towards work.
Productivity	Productivity such as the principle that a firm automates toil.
Efficiency	Values related to waste and efficiency such as a firm that is commits to continually reduce wasted time, effort, materials, transport and energy.
Duty	A duty such as due diligence, fidelity or fiduciary duty.
Professionalism	The principle that a firm conforms to the norms and expectations of a profession. For example, a sales team that values personal appearance and respect for the customer.
Confidentiality	Values related to the privacy of information.
Integrity	Integrity such as honesty above all else.
Quality	A commitment to quality. This takes many forms such as a fruit stand that values freshness or mechanic who always double checks every aspect of a repair.
Focus	Defining an obsession that you value such as a snowboarding firm that values complete immersion in the sport and its culture.
Security	A commitment to physical and information security to protect your stakeholders from harm.
Reputation	Directly valuing your reputation such that you act ethically and to the expectations of your stakeholders.
Transparency	The principle that you won't hide information that stakeholders such as investors, customers and employees need to know.
Mastery	Valuing mastery typically means an obsession with perfection such that you refuse to move on until something is right.
Improvement	The belief that gradual but ongoing change is important to your work.
Health & Safety	Prioritization of health and safety in all that you do. For example, an airline that prioritizes safety over schedules, costs and all other concerns.

Experience

Defining how you want to experience life or experiences that you want to create for others.

Adventure	Valuing the usual, exciting and magical.
Learning	A commitment to learning and/or teaching.
Simplicity	The belief that it is best to keep things as simple as possible.
Complexity	Simplicity isn't necessarily better than complexity and some individuals and firms will adopt principles that favor complexity such as more is more or more is different.
Style	Pursuit of style. For example, an architect who values an aesthetic ideal such as truth to materials.
Usability	A passion for making things that are pleasing and productive to use.
Humor	Not taking yourself too seriously.
Storytelling	Valuing communicating such that you aim to become a storyteller.
Knowledge	Values related to knowledge such as a belief in freedom of speech and expression.
Culture	Values related to cultural beliefs, norms and expectations.
Authenticity	Not faking it. For example, a travel guide who claims to be passionate about adventure who actually is exceptionally adventurous.
Stability	It is common for people to value stability. Promises of stability are common in corporate values and marketing messages. For example, a vineyard that values tradition such that it hasn't changed its production methods for 90 years.
Comfort & Convenience	It is well known that comfort and convenience sell as customers often take the path of least resistance. As such, it is common for firms to establish values such as "we are the easiest to do business with."
Social Status	Valuing social status such as fame or brand image.
Happiness	Valuing your own happiness or your ability to make others happy.
Peak Experiences	Pursuit of experiences that are memorable, meaningful, thrilling or deeply moving.

People

Values for how you treat people and what you seek from social and business relationships.

Teamwork	Valuing the process of working as a team.
Empathy	Caring about the people around you.
Connectedness	Valuing social interaction and connection.
Lead by Example	The principle of letting your results speak as opposed to saying one thing and doing another.
Candor	Actively being honest and forthright.
Celebrate Successes	The belief that there is a time for work and a time to celebrate the fruits of your labor.
Benefit of Doubt	Making positive assumptions about people and not lightly accusing them of wrong doing.
Good Will	Treating others with fairness and generosity.
Diversity	The belief that the differences between people, including ideological differences, are a good thing to be celebrated and welcomed.
Tolerance for Disagreement	The belief that arguments and disagreements are a constructive and valuable process.
Humility	The recognition that many things are outside your control such that you can't go it alone. For example, the acknowledgement that you depend on the good will of those around you.
Listening	The principle that everyone deserves your attention when they speak to you.
Trust	Principles related to trust. Such as the values of an honor system that place great trust in members of a group.
Community Involvement	The belief that you should expand your involvement beyond your immediate business to play a role in the greater community.
Recognition	The principle of recognizing the improvements and accomplishments of others.
Politeness	Affording those around you with basic respect and courtesies.

Fairness & Stewardship

Fairness to communities and stewardship of resources.

Meritocracy	The principle that people are rewarded and positioned according to their abilities and accomplishments.
Equality	Treating people equally without difference to factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability and political views.
Objectivity	Pursuit of the truth as your singular motivation.
Responsibility	Taking responsibility for yourself and your organization. For example, cleaning up any environmental damage caused by your operations.
Accountability	Taking the blame when things go wrong for any area under your authority or influence.
Openness	Sharing information and resources. For example, a researcher who discovers a cure that will save countless people who shares it with the world for free.
Accessibility	Making things accessible to the greatest number of people possible, particularly people with disabilities.
Good Citizenship	The idea that you owe your country more than it owes you.
Giving	Values such as charity and volunteerism.
Pay it Forward	Doing good things without worrying about how it will pay you back.
Think Global, Act Local	Making a global impact in a humble way where you are.
Golden Rule	Treating others the way you would want to be treated in their position.
Do No Harm	The principle that your life and/or business should not leave a negative impact on the environment or people.

Overview: Values
Type	Strategy
Definition	The beliefs and principles that are held by an individual, group or culture.
Related Concepts	Strategy » Culture » Motivation » Innovation » Work Ethic » Art For Art's Sake »

80 Types of Values

Ambition

Performance

Experience

People

Fairness & Stewardship

Business Ethics

Business Ethics

Trade Secrets vs Right To Know

Conflict Of Interest

Fiduciary Duty

Precautionary Principle

Professional Conduct

Accountability

Agency

Gaming The System

Technology Ethics

Existential Risk

Cultural Lag

Technology Forces

Types Of Technology

Precrime

Dark Patterns

Technology Disadvantages

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