Principles are fundamental rules or ideas that guide thought or behaviour, and constitute a frame of reference for achieving the common good within a society. They are universal by nature. The principle of equality (all human beings are equal before the law, regardless of race, gender, nationality, social status or any other characteristic) is an example of a universal ethical principle.
Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, says that “a principle is a natural law like gravity. If you drop something, gravity controls. If I don’t tell you the truth, you won’t trust me; that’s a natural law.”
Values are the qualities that individualize a person’s way of being and behaving. They’re beliefs that people hold about specific issues or ideas, and are ultimately subjective and malleable. They can change over time.
Through our positive values we try to act in accordance with what we consider to be right and we aspire to be the best version of ourselves. These values give us strength and resilience when faced with life’s difficulties, and they determine the decisions we make.
For example, humility, respect, sincerity, responsibility and gratitude are generic values that a person can choose as a basis for his or her behavior.
While principles are external to the individual, values are internal. Your values are your roots. The more aware you are of what your values are, the more connected you are to them and to what is most important to you.
Even if you are not aware of it, the principles and values you abide by are very important in your work and personal life. They determine your priorities and your choices, and therefore your personal management system should take them into account. The GTD methodology uses the 6-level perspective model so that, ultimately, you determine your daily projects and tasks based on what gives meaning to your life, your life purpose.
To shape your life purpose, you must use principles and values. Establishing a set of principles will give you direction whenever you need to make a decision or evaluate a particular opportunity, behavior or situation. Principles are not practiced, but they will be the basis of your values, which will determine what you do and ultimately who you are.
FAQs
Values are subjective, personal, emotional, and arguable, while principles are objective, factual, impersonal, and self-evident because they are indisputable. Principles are universal truths based on natural laws. While values govern behaviors, principles govern the consequences of those behaviors.
What is an example of a principle and value? ›
A principle is the behaviour, response, or action in which you fulfill values. For example, if a value you have is honesty, a principle may be to never tell lies. Principles are specific to a particular field or discipline and provide a framework for how to act in certain situations.
What's the difference between values and principles? ›
Values: The regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something. In short, it's what we hold important. Principles: A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behaviour or for a chain of reasoning.
What are examples of principles? ›
Examples of principles are, entropy in a number of fields, least action in physics, those in descriptive comprehensive and fundamental law: doctrines or assumptions forming normative rules of conduct, separation of church and state in statecraft, the central dogma of molecular biology, fairness in ethics, etc.
What are personal values and principles in life? ›
Your values are the beliefs and principles that you believe are important in the way that you live and work. They (should) determine your priorities, and guide your decisions and the way you act towards others. When the things that you do, and the way that you behave, match your values, life is usually good.
What are a person's principles? ›
They often concern human behavior and govern interactions between people. Principles represent an objective reality that transcends cultures and individuals. For example, Covey cites various principles, including fairness, integrity, and honesty.
How do you identify values and principles? ›
Think about the most important moments in your life and what made them meaningful. Perhaps your most meaningful moment was when your purpose in life was clear. Maybe this was your wedding day or the day you graduated med school. Understanding meaningful moments can help you define your core values.
Which comes first principles or values? ›
Establishing a set of principles will give you direction whenever you need to make a decision or evaluate a particular opportunity, behavior or situation. Principles are not practiced, but they will be the basis of your values, which will determine what you do and ultimately who you are.
What are core values and principles? ›
Core values are the deeply ingrained principles that guide all of a company's actions; they serve as its cultural cornerstones. Collins and Porras succinctly define core values as being inherent and sacrosanct; they can never be compromised, either for convenience or short-term economic gain.
Is honesty a value or principle? ›
Principles include fairness, honesty and integrity, and other such undisputable standards. In contrast to the universal and constant nature of principles, values are internal, subjective, and flexible beliefs that people hold regarding ideas or issues.
The Key Principles are a set of practices and behaviors that address those needs. Key Principles have always been important, but now they are essential. Using Key Principles in a crisis helps create a personal connection, encourage two-way communication, strengthen relationships, and build trust.
What are core principles? ›
Core values are the fundamental beliefs of a person or organization. These guiding principles dictate behavior and can help people understand the difference between right and wrong or otherwise navigate the difficult challenges of life.
What are your five core personal values? ›
Five of the most common and widely known values include integrity, accountability, diligence, perseverance, and discipline. These values can be applied virtually anywhere. They are used in the workplace, in relationships, at schools, and within sports teams.
How do I figure out my value? ›
When you define your values, you discover what's truly important to you. A good way of starting to do this is to look back on your life—to identify when you felt really good, and really confident that you were making good choices. Find examples from your school, work, and/or personal life.
What are principles vs values 7 habits? ›
By doing this, Covey distinguishes principles and values. He sees principles as external natural laws, while values remain internal and subjective. He says that values govern people's behavior, while principles ultimately determine the consequences.
What is an example of a principle in math? ›
In math, there are a few examples of the always principle: The product of two negative numbers is always a positive: -2 * -3 = +6. Negative numbers are always less than positive numbers: -3 < 2. Dividing by 0 always ends in an 'undefined' result.
What is an example of the word principle? ›
principle noun (RULE)
She doesn't have any principles. He was a man of principle. Anyway, I can't deceive him - it's against all my principles. I never gamble, as a matter of principle (= because I believe it is wrong).
What is a moral principle or value? ›
Principles include fairness, honesty and integrity, and other such undisputable standards. In contrast to the universal and constant nature of principles, values are internal, subjective, and flexible beliefs that people hold regarding ideas or issues.
