Below is a list of shared values identified by many leadership programs. This list is not exhaustive, but it covers eight universal domains. My recommendation is to select at most seven, and this will form your core values. Focus on this core list—if everything is a core value, then nothing is a priority. If you cannot rattle off your core values in a blink, you either chose too many or they aren’t being enforced adequately. If your list clusters within a domain, it will help clarify your direction for work and the type of themes that drive your life.
🌐 Core Values Taxonomy
1. Identity & Integrity
What defines your truth, inner compass, and self-worth.
- Authenticity – Living true to your values, beliefs, and personality.
- Honesty – Communicating and acting with truthfulness.
- Openness – Willingness to consider new ideas and perspectives.
- Trustworthiness – Being reliable and deserving of confidence.
- Self-Respect – Holding yourself in esteem regardless of external validation.
- Inner Harmony – A deep sense of alignment and peace within.
- Poise – Grace and composure under pressure.
- Integrity – Acting consistently with your principles.
- Accountability – Taking responsibility for actions and outcomes.
- Humility – Remaining grounded and teachable.
- Courage – Choosing to act despite fear.
- Resilience – Recovering and growing from challenges.
- Forgiveness – Releasing resentment to heal and move forward.
- Patience – Accepting the pace of life with calm persistence.
2. Personal Growth & Mastery
The pursuit of knowledge, performance, and self-evolution.
- Achievement – Accomplishing meaningful goals.
- Competency – Mastering skills and abilities.
- Determination – Persistent effort toward goals.
- Knowledge – The pursuit and application of understanding.
- Wisdom – Applying knowledge with good judgment.
- Learning – Continuously growing through experience and study.
- Curiosity – Desire to explore and understand the unknown.
- Challenge – Seeking opportunities that push your limits.
- Success – Reaching personal or defined measures of accomplishment.
- Growth – Progressing toward your potential.
- Clarity – Seeing yourself and your path with precision.
- Discipline – Staying focused and consistent in your efforts.
- Excellence – Pursuing your highest standard.
- Mindfulness – Being present and fully aware.
- Emotional Intelligence – Managing emotions to navigate relationships and choices.
3. Freedom & Autonomy
Control, independence, and the right to choose.
- Autonomy – Directing your own life and decisions.
- Authority – Having power and influence in a domain.
- Leadership – Inspiring and guiding others toward a vision.
- Responsibility – Owning your duties and impact.
- Stability – Seeking security and consistency in life.
- Security – Feeling safe and protected.
- Freedom – Living without undue constraints.
- Efficiency – Achieving goals with optimized resources.
- Order – Valuing structured and systematic approaches.
- Balance – Harmonizing life’s various roles and priorities.
4. Relationships & Belonging
Connection, love, and shared humanity.
- Love – Deep care and commitment to others.
- Friendships – Valued personal connections and mutual support.
- Kindness – Acting with compassion and generosity.
- Compassion – Deep empathy and desire to alleviate suffering.
- Loyalty – Remaining faithful and dependable to people or causes.
- Respect – Honoring the dignity of others.
- Community – Belonging to and participating in shared groups.
- Citizenship – Engaging responsibly in the civic and social fabric.
- Gratitude – Acknowledging and appreciating what you receive.
- Inclusivity – Embracing and uplifting diverse identities.
- Collaboration – Creating results through shared effort.
- Empathy – Feeling and understanding others’ emotions.
5. Joy & Well-being
Emotional vitality, pleasure, and life enjoyment.
- Happiness – Experiencing joy and contentment.
- Peace – A calm, grounded state of being.
- Balance – A healthy distribution of energy and time.
- Humor – Finding delight and amusement.
- Fun – Engaging in play and enjoyment.
- Pleasure – Savoring life’s sensory rewards.
- Optimism – Maintaining hope and positivity.
- Beauty – Valuing aesthetics and sensory richness.
- Playfulness – Bringing lightness and spontaneity to life.
- Vitality – Feeling energized and fully alive.
- Health – Prioritizing mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
6. Purpose & Contribution
Causes bigger than self; impact and meaning.
- Meaningful Work – Work aligned with deeper values.
- Service – Helping others with time, skill, or compassion.
- Contribution – Making a positive difference in the world.
- Spirituality – Seeking connection with something greater.
- Faith – Trust in unseen or transcendent truth.
- Religion – Formal spiritual practice and belief.
- Fairness – Treating people with impartiality and justice.
- Justice – Working toward equity and moral rightness.
- Environmental Stewardship – Protecting and nurturing the natural world.
- Equity – Ensuring fairness in opportunity and treatment.
- Generosity – Freely offering time, talent, or treasure.
- Legacy – Leaving something lasting and meaningful behind.
7. Recognition & Influence
How you are seen and the impact you make outwardly.
- Influence – Shaping others’ thoughts or behavior.
- Reputation – The perception others have of you.
- Recognition – Being seen and valued for your contributions.
- Status – Social standing or rank.
- Popularity – Being liked and accepted by many.
- Fame – Widespread public recognition.
- Transparency – Open and honest communication.
- Innovation – Bringing new ideas or methods to life.
- Credibility – Being seen as reliable and believable.
8. Exploration & Adventure
Discovery, risk, and the thrill of new experience.
- Adventure – Embracing bold and novel experiences.
- Boldness – Taking risks and acting with confidence.
- Creativity – Generating original ideas and expressions.
- Novelty – Seeking newness and surprise.
- Wonder – Awe at life’s mysteries and beauty.
- Risk-Taking – Willingness to act under uncertainty.
- Spontaneity – Embracing unplanned moments.
- Freedom of Expression – Sharing one’s thoughts and identity openly.
🧩 Alternate View:
You can also categorize these by thematic drivers:
- Moral – Honesty, Integrity, Justice, Fairness
- Aesthetic – Beauty, Poise, Harmony
- Spiritual – Faith, Religion, Inner Harmony, Spirituality
- Professional – Success, Achievement, Leadership, Competency
- Social – Community, Friendship, Love, Citizenship
- Experiential – Adventure, Fun, Creativity, Humor
✅ Quick Self-Check to Arrive at your Seven Core Values
Ask yourself:
- Do I feel something essential to who I am or aspire to be is on the list?
- Am I fully represented in this taxonomy across all life domains (soul, work, play, society)?
- Which values show up most when I’m proud of myself? Or disappointed?
Working Example of How I arrived at my Five Core values
If you answered the Self-Check questions above, you will end up with a list of desires or emotions that resonate with you.
🧭 Mapping Emotional Tipping Points to Core Values
| Tipping State / Description | Desire | Underlying Core Value(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Humor, witty, playful, vibe | Playful | Fun, Humor, Joy, Playfulness, Curiosity, Novelty, Connection |
| Energized / Good health, recovery, unstressed | Useful | Competency, Trustworthiness, Recognition, Reputation, Respect |
| Achievement / Applause, value, transferable skill | Improvement | Achievement, Mastery, Growth, Skill, Creativity, Excellence, Contribution |
| Freedom & security | Money | Security, Wealth, Freedom, Stability, Autonomy |
| Secure / Compounding, net worth | Money | Wealth, Discipline, Strategy, Responsibility, Self-Respect |
| Selective / Authentic smile, self-worth | High Standards | Self-Respect, Integrity, Authenticity, Confidence, Openness, Recognition |
| Passion / BIG YES, exact focus | Directed | Clarity, Focus, Purpose, Meaningful Work, Determination |
| Strategic / Wisdom, decisions, consequences | Confident | Wisdom, Strategy, Leadership, Excellence, Growth |
| Grateful / Coaching, support, caring | Respect | Belonging, Community, Contribution, Gratitude, Service, Compassion, Collaboration |
| Pumped / Elite athlete, Range Of Motion, power, load over time | Energy | Health, Vitality, Performance, Challenge, Mastery, Discipline |
| Belonging / Shared experiences, QOL | Respect | Connection, Belonging, Joy, Shared Experience, Love, Compassion |
| Novel Surprise / Playful, engaging, red/green/refactor | Playful | Creativity, Playfulness, Novelty, Engagement, Humor, Spontaneity |
| Energized / Good health, recovery, unstress | Beauty | Health, Well-being, Renewal, Peace, Beauty, Balance |
🧠 Observations:
- Each tipping point is a behavior or event that’s meaningful because it activates or honors a deeper core value.
- The “Desire” field corresponds to emotional energy or motivational state.
- My taxonomy values — Health, Trustworthiness, Creativity, Growth, and Wealth — appear multiple times; these are my five high-leverage values. My integrity checker example is based on my core values.
- Some tipping points combine external success markers (e.g., applause, money) with intrinsic values (respect, self-worth).
- You can now create an integrity checker that aligns with your core values.
