Values are an essential topic in the development of cultural competence. Values underlie the choices and decisions we make in our lives and in our work. They are fundamental to the strategies we craft in organizations, the way we manage, and the manner in which we let ourselves be managed. We can be aware of and be guided by our values, we can ignore them, or we can forget we have them at all, but in nearly all cases, our values drive our behaviors and ultimately define us.

Values are the operating principles for our lives. They guide and direct our behavior. Hofstede writes that values lie at the core of one’s culture, and they are, in fact, the manifestations of culture. They are formed very early in life through your upbringing, through daily interactions with family and community members, and unconscious modeling in life experiences. Because you acquired them so early in your life, you may be unable to easily recognize your values or talk about them. Noticing them sometimes takes encountering something that reminds you of what you consider right or wrong.

The journey you are on requires that you understand the values that drive you every day. Their power lies in understanding their formation and influence, and harnessing values-based choices through reflection, focus, and practice. You are what you value — and how you consciously and strategically bring your values to life each day.

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