If you consider the big picture of your career and the jobs within it, you could see a pattern on how you make career decisions. When I reflect on mine, I have clarity about what matters to me, that is, my values have driven my career decisions.

I value well being, honesty and empowerment and contribution to others to make a difference. People who have worked with me have valued my courage to work through difficult situations, with integrity. In hindsight, I'm sure I could have handled some situations differently, and it's important to learn from your errors.

While most work places have their rhetoric in terms of the official policies and protocols, it is not enough for me to cover up the office politics that smoulders underneath and destroys the heart of staff morale. I've worked with supervisors and colleagues who, through their own perceptions, values and possibly insecurities, have been unable to accommodate the diversity, energy, passion and competence that I bring to the job. Sometimes efforts have been made to question my decisions and undermine good work. In the sprit of team work, how can this be? In naming others as bullies, I become the victim. I am not prepared to position myself in this way. So what are my options? If personalities are not managed effectively in the workplace, there is potential for teams to become dysfunctional. We all need to have reality checks about our perceptions, and ensure that we are not 'becoming the problem'.

I like the work of Marie G. McIntyre in her book, 'Secrets to winning at Office Politics' (2005). Marian postulates the Organisational Facts of Life (OFOL)

OFOL #1. Organisations are not democracies.

OFOL #2. Some people have more power than others.

OFOL #3. Virtually all decisions are subjective.

OFOL #4. Your boss has control over much of your life.

OFOL #5. Fairness is an impossible goal.

While these ideas can be confronting at first, I agree with them, as they put a perspective on the way things are in traditional organisations. I am able to recognise my roles and responsibilities, and the limitations too. There are times when I do need to take courage and step up to work things out, but there have been other times when it has been other people's roles to work through difficult situations.

My career decisions, over time, have demonstrated that it is possible to work in difficult situations – to a point. The older I grow, the more my values tend to be stronger. Depending on my role, I have considered what constitutes appropriate action. While I've had a role to play in my relationships with my colleagues, it has not been my role to manage the professional behaviour of others. My options have been to either compromise my values and accept the situation, work it out, or leave. I think such situations lend themselves to the virtues held within the well known Serenity Prayer by the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr.

'God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.'

I have exercised each option over time and in different positions. For me, it has come down to the costs and the benefits of aligning the situation with my values.

Through a range of personal and professional development programs, my self awareness has peaked to a point where I do know what I want. This is much more powerful than knowing what you don't want. I now make my career decisions based on my values, which include honest and empowering contribution to others, nurturing my relationships with people who share my values, and taking responsibility for my health and financial security.

Here are some steps for you to consider when making value based career decisions.

1. Know what your values are and prioritise them (what's important for you to have in a workplace). If your buttons are being pressed then that should tell you something about what you value if you could have a better situation.
    
2. Work towards meeting those values every day in your workplace, regardless of others' behaviour.
    
3. Consider how to move toward your preferred career, within your values framework. What is your bigger picture and how can you move toward it?
    
4. Take responsibility for your own behaviour at all times.

Have courage to believe in yourself. Look within and find what you value most, then give yourself a promotion and move towards it with action today.

About the Author

Leanne Cleghorn is an Australian career coach and counsellor, and director of Women In New Careers P/L. She is dedicated to empowering women and men to move forward in their careers, and is a great motivator when you need someone to hold your hand. She has experienced career change herself and understands the courage and risks involved in making career decisions. Leanne is an accomplished and dedicated career and personal counsellor of 10 years experience, and a teaching professional with a 25 year history of developing and delivering innovative courses at secondary and tertiary level. She has a demonstrated record of consistently achieving excellent results from clients in a variety of culturally diverse environments. She is an experienced presenter and highly skilled communicator with an ability to develop rapport and trust with staff, colleagues and clients. She is highly motivated and enthusiastic, as well as adaptable, flexible and open to changing work environments.

Leanne offers a range of free reports via her website called "The Seven Stepping Stones To Your New Career" , as well as 'Secrets revealed: Stand out in the crowd' (regarding competitive job applications), and 'Ten tips to re-ignite your life long learning through further study'. Leanne shares more free information and tips about Career Aspirations on her blog.

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Leanne Cleghorn is a member of the Australian Women's Mentoring Network. Visit Leanne's AWMN Profile (login required).

© Leanne Cleghorn 2011