Developing or identifying values can be efficiently done. Further, whatever your group make-up is—teachers, parents, clergy, students—there will be general agreement on the ones you select.
Step 1
Provide information on values that may be already in school documents or are generally made public in hospitals, businesses or community organizations.
Step 2
Have each individual participant write down four to six values important to them. Provide three to five minutes of time for them to do their thinking and writing.
Step 3
On chart paper, record their values by having them share one at a time. (Have several sheets available and when recording provide space between each value.)
Note: Tell participants if a value has been already recorded they do not need to repeat it. Also, if you have a group of 50 or more do this process in cluster groups of 15-25 and then combine them.
Step 4
Once the values are recorded, examine for terms that are similar or that are easily included in another value. Cross out those that will be included within another term.
Note: It is best to have an unabridged dictionary available to read definitions if needed.
Step 5
Provide each person with six sticky dots. They will have to decide which values are their most important. They have six dots to "spend" as they choose.
Note: You have to decide if they need to select six or can they put more than one dot on a value.
Step 6
After the dots are on the posted charts, simply do a numerical count of the top six—if there are several that have a similar dot you may want to determine the top ten or twelve. (Generally four-six key values are a desirable number.) If a few have a large number of dots adopt them as givens. If there are still some, for example three or four, to be re-voted on, provide only two dots for participants to select.
Step 7
Finalize your values list. Take time now to have groups of three or four discuss what each value (personal attribute) looks like in practice.
Conclusion
Values are easily identified in a group setting. The difficulty is in aligning collective action to bring them forth consistently over time. Therefore, as in all of this work, they must be addressed and discussed on a regular basis. This shapes the culture and provides referent points for all staff.
Provide each person with six sticky dots. They will have to decide which values are their most important. They have six dots to "spend" as they choose.
