In the quest for personal and professional growth, the significance of values cannot be overstated. Dr Jackie Le Fèvre’s recent research sheds light on this very subject, offering groundbreaking insights into how a deeper connection with our values can profoundly enhance our lives and work practices. Here, we delve into the key findings of this research and explore actionable strategies for incorporating these insights into daily life.
The Foundation of Values
At a recent event “Being Value-Able: the practical implications of recent doctoral research” organised by UK Values Alliance, Dr Le Fèvre, transitioning from a background in zoology to a focus on human values, embarked on a journey to unravel the complexities of human behaviour through the lens of values. Despite the challenges in defining values due to inconsistencies in the literature, Dr Le Fèvre’s dedication led to the development of a contemporary values framework. This framework, particularly beneficial in tough decision-making instances, has already shown its worth, offering individuals increased self-assurance and strengthened sense-making capabilities.
Research Revelations
Dr Le Fèvre’s studies, conducted against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, have provided compelling evidence of the positive impact of values connection. The research, involving a gender-balanced group representative of the UK’s working-age population, confirmed a strong relationship between values connection and its numerous benefits. A notable result, a Chronback’s alpha of 0.85, underpins the survey instrument’s reliability, reinforcing the credibility of these findings.
The Positive Impact of Values Connection
The research underscored the profound influence of values connection on personal well-being, including a 21% uplift in life satisfaction and a 37% increase in meaningful activities. Organisational benefits were also highlighted, such as the support for job crafting initiatives and self-managed teams, showcasing the broad applicability of values in enhancing both individual and collective experiences.
The Importance of Autonomy
An intriguing discovery was the negative impact on well-being when individuals, despite a strong connection with their values, found themselves in work settings lacking decision-making autonomy. This underscores the crucial need for organisations to foster environments where employees can exercise agency, aligning their personal values with their professional roles.
Self-Regulation and Well-Being
Dr Le Fèvre touched upon the concept of self-regulating using personal values as a means to kindness towards oneself, acknowledging past actions, and understanding motivations for improvement. This approach supports well-being significantly, highlighting the importance of personal values in our journey towards a more fulfilled life.
Organisational Values Programmes
The research also brought to light that over two-thirds of the UK workforce had never engaged with their own values, pointing to a substantial opportunity for organisations. Implementing values programmes with clarity and support for employees to connect with their personal values can lead to more engaged and motivated teams, ultimately driving organisational success.
Personal Values and Longevity
The alignment of personal values not only enriches work environments but also contributes to longer, healthier lives. Statistical analysis has shown that an awareness of one’s personal values may counteract degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, further emphasising the profound impact of values beyond the professional sphere.
Values and Performance
Aligning personal values with professional roles can significantly enhance performance, explaining an additional 22.67% of an individual’s performance beyond motivation alone. This alignment fosters a sense of purpose and drive, translating into improved outcomes in various aspects of life.
The Way Forward
Dr Le Fèvre’s intentions for future research, focusing on skill development related to a validated ‘being valuable scale’ and establishing causality through structural equation modelling, promise further insights into the intricate relationship between values and well-being.
Conclusion
The research presented by Dr Jackie Le Fèvre offers a compelling argument for the critical role of values in enhancing our professional and personal lives. By fostering a deeper connection with our values, we can navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence and clarity, improve our well-being, and achieve a more fulfilling existence. As we integrate these insights into our daily practices, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities, where our values guide us towards a richer, more meaningful life.
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About Dr Jackie Le Fèvre
Dr Jackie Le Fèvre is a distinguished figure in the realm of values and culture, wielding a profound impact on both personal development and organisational success. With a PhD awarded in November 2023 for her pioneering research, “Being Value-Able: an exploration of the benefits of conscious connection to values,” Dr Le Fèvre has dedicated her career to unveiling the intrinsic power of values as the cornerstone of meaning and motivation. Her work articulates a simple yet profound truth: living in alignment with our priority values cultivates happiness and harmony, whereas deviation leads to stress and a sense of being adrift.
Dr Le Fèvre’s journey began in the field of behavioural ecology, where she worked closely with chimpanzees, nurturing an innate curiosity about the behavioural drivers across species. This unique foundation paved the way for her transition into a leadership role as a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI) and a key contributor to the CMI Subject Matter Experts Group, where she champions the integration of values and culture at a national level.
As the Director of Magma Effect, Dr Le Fèvre has positioned the company as the sole UK licensor of the AVI, a leading values profiling tool based on the Minessence Values Framework. Her work with Magma Effect encompasses a broad spectrum of services aimed at embedding values deeply within the fabric of organisations. These services range from clarifying collective purpose and core values through storytelling, to auditing and mapping organisational values to ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
Dr Le Fèvre’s book, “Braver Than You Think: female perspectives on courage,” published by Tangent Books, offers insightful explorations into the concept of courage through a values-driven lens.
In addition to her leadership role at Magma Effect, Dr Le Fèvre contributes her expertise as a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire. Her sessions, which focus on values within the MSc programme, illuminate the critical role of values in shaping professional practices and personal development.
Dr Jackie Le Fèvre’s work underscores the essence of values as the heartbeat of meaningful existence and organisational excellence. Her commitment to harnessing the power of values not only illuminates paths to personal satisfaction and professional achievement but also fosters environments where authenticity, engagement, resilience, trust, and creativity flourish. Through her research, teachings, and practice, Dr Le Fèvre continues to inspire individuals and organisations to connect consciously with their values, paving the way for a more fulfilling and values-aligned future.
Academy of Life Planning 