There are many ways to analyze vision, but the ones that I like best involve Identity and Future: who you are and where you are going. Jim Collins and Jerry Porras provide a great description of vision with this perspective in their best selling book “Built to Last.” They speak of complete vision with 3 components:

Core Values,
Purpose, and
Envisioned Future.

Core values are about identity. They come first because everything flows from them. Everything else must align with them. This is true in successful business, research, and life. Your core values are unique to you, and are the same, no matter what you do – research, sales, teach, manage, etc. Examples of core values include: integrity, product excellence, respect and concern for the individual, continuous self-improvement, run lean, and others. There is no one theme to the “ideal” set of core values. What is important however, is the authenticity of the (three to six) values to which you attain. When your core values are true to self, they will not change, even if you change careers. Don’t try and determine what core values you should have. Discover which ones you already hold.

Knowing your core values helps you make decisions. When posed with a question, make sure the possible outcome aligns with your core values. If not, saying no comes easy.

In terms of a research career, core values can act as your internal IRB or IACUC committee. They can tell you who and who not to collaborate with or who to hire. They can tell you how to spend your money, which grant money to accept, and how to remain focused.

Identifying your core values is not a 5 minute assignment. It requires internal reflection. It requires effort. But it is the key to a successful career. And just as important as identifying them, is remembering them. So write them down. Review them. Post them in a place that is visible to your entire research team.

Next we add purpose to our core values.

Posted by Jim Wrenn, October 30, 2009, blogger@itworks-inc.com