New research has revealed one in two workers are now reporting severe burnout, characterised by exhaustion, cynicism, decreased satisfaction, reduced performance and efficacy. This surpasses burnout rates seen at the height of the pandemic – and is double that of rates in December 2023 [Source]. Yikes!
While burnout has many causes, today I want to spotlight a less discussed, yet potent contributing factor: values congruence—or, more accurately, the lack of it.
⚖️ What is values congruence?
Values congruence refers to the alignment between an individual’s core values and the values upheld by their workplace.
⚖️ Core values represent what you consider most important in life – the non-negotiable beliefs and guiding principles that shape your sense of right and wrong, motivate you and bring meaning to your life.
When your personal beliefs, ethics, and motivations align with the company culture and goals, you’re more likely to feel motivated, satisfied, and energized at work.
🧭 Having clarity on your core values allows you to use them as a guiding North Star, helping navigate tough situations, make sound decisions, and live in alignment with what truly matters.
Conversely, a mismatch between personal and organisational values is associated with poor well-being and a greater risk of burnout. Here’s how…
🔥 Values mismatch and burnout
👉 Internal conflict: When your personal values clash with the company’s values or practices, it creates a sense of internal conflict. You may find yourself compromising on what’s important to you to meet organisational demands, which can feel exhausting and draining over time.
Jade values family and work-life balance, yet work demands a 60-hour week – she constantly feels drained and emotionally exhausted.
👉 Decreased job satisfaction: People are more likely to feel fulfilled when they believe their work has purpose and meaning. Those who experience their job as their “calling” draw upon more of their signature character strengths and report more positive experiences at work [Source]. A mismatch therefore can lead to a sense of purposelessness and lack of meaning in their work, decreasing job satisfaction.
Kate values service and helping others, yet her job only serves to line the pockets of the big-wigs, she increasingly has moments of “what’s the point?”, as her work holds no meaning to her.
👉 Less engagement and motivation: Without alignment in values, it’s difficult to stay fully engaged and motivated. You may feel less committed, leading to lower performance and efficacy, reduced enthusiasm, and eventually, burnout.
Jackie values recognition, it helps her feel validated and appreciated in her efforts. Despite going above and beyond for her clients, her management team have barely acknowledged her contribution, they seem to only celebrate big wins or major milestones. Jackie starts to feel invisible and undervalued and loses motivation for her work, she’s starting to feel burnt out.
Kate’s workplace claims to value transparency, yet the leadership team often holds meetings behind closed doors, excluding her from important discussions. This constant contradiction between stated values and actions leaves Kate feeling side-lined and distrustful.
🏹 Preventing burnout through values alignment
The first step to achieving values congruence is, unsurprisingly, to get really clear on your core values.
If you’ve never taken the time to consciously map these out, I highly recommend doing so.
I attended a core values workshop some time ago, and it was one of the best self-development investments I’ve made. There are also some excellent free resources online to help you get started.
Once you have your core values mapped out, use them to regularly reflect on whether your personal values align with your business or workplace environment. This reflection will help you make strategic career choices that promote long-term satisfaction and well-being.
Consider your core values when answering questions like: Should I take this job? Should I stay in this role? Should I accept that promotion? Should I start my own business? Do I need to change my offering? Can I compromise on this?
Making a choice aligned with your core values is a powerful way to honour and respect future you.
If you find that your values aren’t in alignment with your business or workplace, that’s okay—it doesn’t necessarily mean that one or the other is wrong; it just means it’s not a good fit.
Having the gift of awareness gives you two choices: accept the situation or change it. You may realise that you’re doing yourself a disservice by accepting the status quo, keeping yourself stuck in an uncomfortable environment.
If you’re brave enough to take action and change the situation (the messier, more disruptive path, for sure), you may find it leads to a happier and more fulfilling outcome for all involved, while keeping the risk of burnout in the rear-view mirror.
👋 I want to leave you with a personal story
Before my career in natural medicine, I worked in advertising in the creative department. After going through a health crisis, I came to value health in a whole new way. At the time, I had been freelancing for one of the biggest advertising agencies in Sydney.
The ‘suits’ called me into a meeting to discuss a new brief for McDonald’s. As I sat there listening, I experienced a moment of clarity. You know what I did? I declined the brief! I remember thinking, fast food, no, I’m not comfortable promoting that.
I don’t think anyone in the creative department had ever done that before. The suits were in shock; they didn’t know what to say, the audacity, to decline a brief! But I felt so good about my decision, liberated even.
The next morning, I was told my contract wouldn’t be renewed and was unceremoniously let go that day. It was the messy, scary decision, but the best one. As I walked through the CBD on my way home, I thought, I’m never going to work in that industry again. And I didn’t.
It was a cosmic pivot, but one I may have missed out on if I hadn’t a strong understanding of my own core values.
Hope that helps,
Till next time,
Lauren.
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