Development of Personal Values Introduction
Personal values often represent individual characteristics and beliefs that determine people’s behavior in various environments. Personal values and ethical standards are developed throughout life. Various experiences, family members, friends, work, education, and many other factors can influence the establishment of personal values. Values are demonstrated through decision making, work related behaviors, and interpersonal communications. Prioritizing individual values enables people to set personal goals, influence others, and capitalize on available opportunities. “Attention to our values helps people become more self-aware, make ethical decisions, prioritize our tasks, and develop credibility as a leader” (Williams, para 4, nd)
Development of Values Values are usually assimilated during early stages of childhood. Parents, teachers, and family members play a fundamental role in the development of ethical value systems. Development of my personal beliefs was a result of loving family members who expressed a general concerned for a healthy life. I have incorporated learned values into every aspect of my life. Age has allowed me to experience both positive and negative events that have strengthened my core principles. Developing a clear sense of personal values help me identify and prioritize important characteristics of my life. The establishment of personal values allows me to create goals and make qualified decisions in any environment.
Defining Values Defining personal values during adolescent years can be difficult. Most adolescents assimilate their values from parents or guardian figures. The development of my personal values was solidified in the latter years of my life. Education played a major role in my understanding and acceptance of an ethical value system. The following list provides a synopsis of personal values that I have integrated into my routine behaviors.
Values

Ambition
Intelligence
Confidence
Creativity
Dependability
Effectiveness
Courage
Empathy
Encouragement
Family
Fitness
Happiness
Honesty
Wittiness
Leadership
Loyalty
Love
Maturity
Motivation
Organization
Passion
Persistence
Perceptiveness
Compassion
Preparedness
Punctuality
Sacrifice
Commitment
Self control
Structure
Routine
Thriftiness
Support Many of my personal values are interrelated and illustrate the foundation of my behavioral characteristics. The list of values does not encompass every aspect of my life but provides a general idea of the ethical standards I strive to achieve. Many important people and institutions have contributed to the development of my personal values.
Establishment of Values Education was an important aspect of my family life for as long as I can remember. My father understood that life was much more difficult without a proper education. He returned to college in his thirties in hopes of bettering his family’s life. My father’s commitment to family instilled a sense of responsibility that has guided my achievements and personal goals. Like many adolescents, I had a huge falling-out with my father and chose to move out on my own at the age of 18. I thought I was in love and new all there was to know about life. I began working for my current employer in a manufacturing plant. I also began college at the local technical institution. I found college easy and enjoy the prospect of obtaining a fulfilling career. College allowed me to strengthen my mind and personal values. College, work, and my relationship last about a year before circumstances became overwhelming. My mother and father divorced after 13 years of marriage, my relationship failed, I gave up on college, and working took precedent over most things. I experienced severe bouts of depression for several years. At the age of 40 my father committed suicide. The loss of his family and a lifetime of depression became more than he could bear. The death of my father was a critical turning point in my life. I began to see things differently and realized my mother and sister depended on me more than ever; in essence, I became the man of the house. I experienced another failed relationship, and some hard times but eventually life began to change. My job also developed many of my personal values. I have work for Southwire for 10 long years. The work and long hours are taxing on my body, mind, and spirit. The pay is decent but will never afford me a lavish lifestyle. I was 18 when I began working for Southwire; most of the employees were veterans who had been with company many years. My interactions with men much older than I allowed me extract pieces of information that would form my perspective on life. I listened intently, and ask questions about everything. My success in life has revolved around my inquisitive nature and willingness to learn. The environment at Southwire has not allowed me to use my mind. The labor is manual and required little creativity to perform the task. Advancing in the environment is extremely difficult because of an inadequate system. After seven years of working for Southwire, I decide to return to college. I had a bad attitude about my job and life that left me unhappy. Returning to college was the most significant turning point in my values and my way of thinking. I began to view work much differently and in a more positive manner. Education encouraged me to assert my values to other people but living a lifestyle that illustrated my values. Returning to college introduce me to new learning methods that facilitated my decision making abilities. I have always been a critical thinker and apply critical thinking skills to every situation. College promoted various critical thinking skills which allowed me to analyze my value system. Each college course encouraged me to redefine who I was as a person and how I wanted other people to see me.
Impact on Work Ethics Redefining my value system permitted me to influence my work behaviors. My negative attitude began to fade as I increasingly changed my work ethic. I used to be a decent employee but regularly complained about many situations. A new vice president of our division challenged all employees to be the best at what they do. I took this challenge to heart and have strived to be the best employee at my job. “Given the central role attributed to values, one would expect the ethical dimension of decisions to differ depending upon the values held by the decision maker” (Fritzsche and Oz, p. 336, 2007). The change in my value system contributed to effective decision making skills that have perpetuated my long term planning goals. My organization often refers to employee “buy-in” of practices and procedures. Reevaluating my personal values forced me to “buy-in” to our organizations business culture. The text in chapter two suggests “organizations are concerned about their ability to hire and retain the best workers; the evidence suggests that employees are more attracted to and more committed to ethical organizations” (Trevino and Nelson, para 38, 2007). One of the contributing factors that change my work ethics was Southwire’s change in organizational culture. The company implemented changes and polices that reflected the company’s commit to employee involvement, well-being, and sustainability. Conclusion Defining my personal values has proven easy throughout most of my life. I attribute many of my values to my parents but life experiences have influenced my behavior. Improving my personal values has enriched the quality my life and the people around me. I attempt to convey a positive and caring nature to people in hopes of influencing their behavior. My future goals are to successfully complete my college education and start my own business. I believe the knowledge I have learned and incorporated into my life will allow me prosper in my business endeavor. Careful planning and decision making are at the forefront of my business plans. Ethical behaviors will remain at the forefront of my personal behavior and decision making abilities.

References
Fritzsche, D.J., Oz, E. (2007). Personal Values_ Influence on the Ethical Dimension of Decision Making. Journal of Business Ethics. Retrieved http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=4&hid=108&sid=d48ce303-3a17-4ba5-b747-0cd556b5fde7%40sessionmgr104
Williams, S. (nd). Clarifying and Applying Personal Values: Priorities and Integrity. Retrieved March 17, 2010, from http://www.wright.edu/~scott.williams/LeaderLetter/values.htm
Trevino, L.K., Nelson, K.A.(2007). Week 1: Chapter 2: Why Be Ethical? (Why Bother? Who Cares?) Retrieved from University of Phoenix, PHL 323-Ethics in Management course website.