What does altruism mean as a core value?
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.
Plenty of help comes with a quiet expectation attached: thanks, a favour in return, a better reputation. Altruism is help without the attachment. The point is simply that someone else ends up better off. If it’s one of your core values, you’ll give blood, mentor a stranger’s child or put extra hours into a colleague’s project and never mention it, and being thanked can feel slightly awkward. The question you ask instinctively is who needs this.
What does altruism look like in practice?
- You help people you’ll never see again.
- You give anonymously when putting your name on it would earn you credit.
- You volunteer for the unglamorous job that nobody will notice was done.
- You pass an opportunity to someone who needs it more, even when you could use it too.
- You feel faintly uncomfortable when someone insists on repaying a favour.
When is altruism overplayed?
Selflessness taken too far becomes self-neglect. You give time, energy and money you don’t really have, then feel resentful or depleted without quite knowing why. It can also make it hard to receive help, which leaves others unable to give back and can quietly unbalance relationships. Kept in proportion, it helps freely without erasing yourself. Next time someone offers to return a favour, you could simply say yes and notice how that feels.
Often confused with
Altruism vs Generosity
Generosity is giving freely of what you have. Altruism is about motive: putting others’ good first with no expectation of return, sometimes at real cost to yourself.
Altruism vs Service
Service is contributing to a group, cause or organisation you belong to. Altruism is often directed at anyone in need, including complete strangers.
Altruism vs Compassion
Compassion is moved by suffering. Altruism doesn’t need anyone to be suffering, only that you can leave them better off.
Questions to sit with
- When you help without expecting anything back, what do you actually get from it?
- Who have you not let help you, and what did that cost them?
- Where is your helping costing you more than you can sustain?
More values in Care
Looking out for others, especially those in need.
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.
Find your own
Is Altruism one of your core values?
Choose from 155 values, narrow them down to the few that matter most, and get a personal report to keep. Free, and it takes about 15 minutes.
Find your core values