When Work Feels Off: The Hidden Power of Values Alignment

Last week, a friend called me for a coaching session. She’d just started a new job—one she was excited about. The work felt important, the mission was solid, and she genuinely believed in the impact. But something wasn’t sitting right.

She was stressed. Not just the usual “new job” jitters—this was deeper. Every time she sat down to work, her chest tightened, her energy drained, and she couldn’t figure out why. She’d worked in places with clunky processes before, but this time, it felt personal.

As we talked, the fog began to lift. The issue wasn’t the work itself. It wasn’t even the process. It was something more fundamental: her values were out of sync with the way the work was being done.

💡 The Values Wake-Up Call

That moment of clarity was powerful. She realized that while she believed in the what, she couldn’t get behind the how. The processes, the culture, the decision-making style—it all clashed with her core beliefs. And that misalignment was quietly eroding her sense of purpose and peace.

This is more common than we think. We often chase meaningful work, but forget that meaning isn’t just about the mission—it’s about the method. It’s about feeling that what you do matters, and that how you do it reflects who you are.

🔍 What Makes Work Meaningful?

Let’s break it down:

• Meaning = Significance + Purpose + Direction

• It’s the sense that your work contributes to something bigger.

• It’s the feeling that your actions align with your beliefs.

But here’s the twist: meaning alone isn’t enough. You can be doing “important” work and still feel miserable if the environment violates your values.

🧭 Finding Your Values Compass

So how do you know if your values are aligned with your work?

Start by asking:

• What principles guide my decisions?

• What kind of culture brings out my best?

• What behaviors do I admire—and which ones drain me?

There are great tools to help with this: values inventories, journaling prompts, even coaching conversations. The goal is to name what matters most to you—so you can spot when it’s missing.

🎯 Alignment = Satisfaction

When your values and your work environment intersect, magic happens:

• You feel energized, not depleted.

• You experience satisfaction, not just success.

• You enjoy the process, not just the outcome.

Is it meaning or enjoyment that results from values alignment? Honestly, it’s both. And yes—it does matter.

✨ Final Thought

If you’re feeling off at work and can’t quite explain why, don’t just look at the tasks. Look at the tension. It might be your values waving a red flag.

Do you need a coach? Contact me @grayecac@gmail.com.