Values-Decision Alignment Worksheet
For Authentic Leaders Facing Dilemmas
Decision Context and Situation
Decision Overview
Decision Title: [Clear description of the decision to be made]
Decision Deadline: [When decision must be made]
Decision Maker: [Who has ultimate authority]
Stakeholders Affected: [Who will be impacted by this decision]
Situation Description
Background: [Context leading to this decision point]
Dilemma Description: [Why this decision feels challenging or conflicted]
Competing Pressures: [Different forces or expectations at play]
Consequences of Delay: [What happens if decision is postponed]
Core Values Identification and Clarification
Personal Core Values
Value 1: [Your most important value]
- Definition: [What this value means to you specifically]
- Behavioral Examples: [How you typically live this value]
- Non-negotiable Aspects: [When you would never compromise this value]
Value 2: [Your second most important value]
- Definition: [What this value means to you specifically]
- Behavioral Examples: [How you typically live this value]
- Non-negotiable Aspects: [When you would never compromise this value]
Value 3: [Your third most important value]
- Definition: [What this value means to you specifically]
- Behavioral Examples: [How you typically live this value]
- Non-negotiable Aspects: [When you would never compromise this value]
Organizational Values Consideration
Relevant Organizational Values:
- [Value]: [How it applies to this decision]
- [Value]: [How it applies to this decision]
- [Value]: [How it applies to this decision]
Alignment Assessment: [How well personal and organizational values align in this context]
Decision Options Analysis
Option 1: [Description]
Values Alignment Assessment:
Value 1 ([Value Name]):
- Alignment Score: [1-5, where 5 = perfect alignment]
- How this option honors/violates this value: [Specific analysis]
- Potential compromises: [Any ways this might compromise the value]
Value 2 ([Value Name]):
- Alignment Score: [1-5, where 5 = perfect alignment]
- How this option honors/violates this value: [Specific analysis]
- Potential compromises: [Any ways this might compromise the value]
Value 3 ([Value Name]):
- Alignment Score: [1-5, where 5 = perfect alignment]
- How this option honors/violates this value: [Specific analysis]
- Potential compromises: [Any ways this might compromise the value]
Overall Values Alignment Score: [Average of individual scores]
Option 2: [Description]
Values Alignment Assessment:
Value 1 ([Value Name]):
- Alignment Score: [1-5, where 5 = perfect alignment]
- How this option honors/violates this value: [Specific analysis]
- Potential compromises: [Any ways this might compromise the value]
Value 2 ([Value Name]):
- Alignment Score: [1-5, where 5 = perfect alignment]
- How this option honors/violates this value: [Specific analysis]
- Potential compromises: [Any ways this might compromise the value]
Value 3 ([Value Name]):
- Alignment Score: [1-5, where 5 = perfect alignment]
- How this option honors/violates this value: [Specific analysis]
- Potential compromises: [Any ways this might compromise the value]
Overall Values Alignment Score: [Average of individual scores]
Option 3: [Description]
Values Alignment Assessment:
Value 1 ([Value Name]):
- Alignment Score: [1-5, where 5 = perfect alignment]
- How this option honors/violates this value: [Specific analysis]
- Potential compromises: [Any ways this might compromise the value]
Value 2 ([Value Name]):
- Alignment Score: [1-5, where 5 = perfect alignment]
- How this option honors/violates this value: [Specific analysis]
- Potential compromises: [Any ways this might compromise the value]
Value 3 ([Value Name]):
- Alignment Score: [1-5, where 5 = perfect alignment]
- How this option honors/violates this value: [Specific analysis]
- Potential compromises: [Any ways this might compromise the value]
Overall Values Alignment Score: [Average of individual scores]
Stakeholder Impact Through Values Lens
Primary Stakeholders Analysis
Stakeholder 1: [Group or individual]
- How each option affects them: [Impact analysis]
- Values implications: [How your values relate to their well-being]
- Ethical considerations: [Right/wrong implications for this group]
Stakeholder 2: [Group or individual]
- How each option affects them: [Impact analysis]
- Values implications: [How your values relate to their well-being]
- Ethical considerations: [Right/wrong implications for this group]
Stakeholder 3: [Group or individual]
- How each option affects them: [Impact analysis]
- Values implications: [How your values relate to their well-being]
- Ethical considerations: [Right/wrong implications for this group]
Values-Based Stakeholder Prioritization
Whose interests should take priority based on your values? [Analysis of competing stakeholder needs through values lens]
How do your values guide balancing different stakeholder needs? [Framework for trade-offs]
Long-Term Values Integrity Assessment
Future Values Test
In 5 years, looking back on this decision:
- Will I be proud of the choice I made? [Yes/No and reasoning]
- Will this decision reflect who I want to be as a leader? [Analysis]
- Will I be able to explain this decision to my family/friends with pride? [Consideration]
Values Development Impact
How will each option affect my future ability to live my values?
Option 1:
- Values strengthening: [How this choice reinforces values]
- Values weakening: [How this choice might compromise future values integrity]
Option 2:
- Values strengthening: [How this choice reinforces values]
- Values weakening: [How this choice might compromise future values integrity]
Option 3:
- Values strengthening: [How this choice reinforces values]
- Values weakening: [How this choice might compromise future values integrity]
Values Conflict Resolution
Identifying Values Tensions
Which of your values are in conflict in this situation?
- Value A vs. Value B: [Description of tension]
- Why they're conflicting: [Root cause of conflict]
- Potential resolution: [How to honor both values]
Values Prioritization in Context
Given this specific situation, how should your values be prioritized?
- Most Important: [Value] - [Why it takes priority here]
- Second Priority: [Value] - [How to honor while prioritizing #1]
- Third Priority: [Value] - [How to honor while prioritizing others]
Creative Values Integration
Is there a way to modify options to better honor multiple values?
Modified Option: [Creative alternative that better serves multiple values]
- How it honors Value 1: [Specific ways]
- How it honors Value 2: [Specific ways]
- How it honors Value 3: [Specific ways]
Decision Integrity Check
Authenticity Assessment
Which option feels most true to who I am? [Gut-level authenticity check]
Which option would the best version of myself choose? [Aspirational authenticity]
Which option requires me to compromise my core identity least? [Identity preservation]
Public Values Test
Would I be comfortable if this decision and my reasoning were public? [Transparency test]
Could I explain this decision in terms of my values to anyone who asked? [Explanation test]
Does this decision set a precedent I'm comfortable with for future similar situations? [Consistency test]
Implementation with Values Integration
Values-Based Communication Plan
How will I explain this decision in terms of my values?
- To my team: [Values-based explanation]
- To senior leadership: [Values-based rationale]
- To affected stakeholders: [Values-centered communication]
Values Monitoring During Implementation
How will I ensure values alignment during execution?
- Check-in questions: [Regular self-assessment questions]
- Values indicators: [Signs that implementation is honoring values]
- Course correction triggers: [When to adjust approach to maintain values alignment]
Final Decision and Commitment
Selected Option
Chosen Decision: [Which option selected]
Primary Values-Based Reasoning: [Why this choice best honors your values]
Accepted Trade-offs: [Values compromises you're willing to make and why]
Values Implementation Commitment: [How you'll ensure decision execution honors your values]
Personal Values Learning
What has this process taught you about your values? [Insights gained]
How will this experience inform future values-based decisions? [Learning application]
What values clarification or development do you need based on this experience? [Growth areas]
Follow-Up and Values Reflection
Post-Decision Values Assessment (Schedule for 30 days later)
How well did the decision align with my values in practice? [Reflection]
What values tensions emerged during implementation? [Implementation challenges]
How did stakeholders respond to the values-based reasoning? [Reception feedback]
What would I do differently next time? [Process improvement]
Values Integrity Maintenance
How can I continue to strengthen alignment between my values and actions? [Ongoing development]
What systems or practices will help me make more values-aligned decisions in the future? [Process improvement]
This worksheet helps Authentic Leaders navigate complex decisions by systematically evaluating options through their core values, ensuring decisions align with their authentic leadership principles.