The Care family brings together 7 core values: Care, Advocacy, Altruism, Compassion, Empathy, Support and Generosity. They share a theme, looking out for others, especially those in need, and each puts the weight somewhere slightly different. If two or three of them feel true of you, this theme probably matters a lot in how you choose your work and spend your time.
The values in Care
Care
Care as a core value means paying steady, everyday attention to how other people are doing and taking practical steps to look after them, in ordinary times as well as hard ones.
Advocacy
Advocacy as a core value means speaking up for people who have less power or no say, so their interests count in the decisions that affect them.
Altruism
Altruism as a core value means acting for other people’s good with no expectation of return, helping because someone will be better off, even at some cost to yourself.
Compassion
Compassion as a core value means responding to someone’s pain or hardship by trying to ease it, with warmth and practical help, including when the person struggling is you.
Empathy
Empathy as a core value means making the effort to understand what an experience is really like for someone else, and letting that understanding shape how you respond.
Support
Support as a core value means being reliably in someone’s corner at the moments that matter, offering practical help, encouragement or simply your presence when they face something hard.
Generosity
Generosity as a core value means giving freely of your money, time, credit and attention, without keeping a ledger of what you’re owed in return.
About the author
Matt Rutherford is a Career and Leadership Coach. The Values Finder is the same exercise he uses with his coaching clients. He also writes Stuff that MattRs, a weekly newsletter with practical ideas to help you think clearer and work better.
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