Values Wheel
A free interactive values wheel: choose the values that matter most to you, rate how fully you are living each one, and see your biggest gaps on a single wheel.
0 of 8 chosen
Choose the values that matter most
Pick 5 to 8. Choose by what you protect when it costs you something — not by what sounds good.
Integrity & character 21
Achievement & mastery 20
Freedom & independence 16
Security & stability 19
Connection & belonging 20
Care & contribution 20
Growth & learning 19
Creativity & expression 18
Enjoyment & vitality 22
Influence & leadership 18
Faith, meaning & spirit 19
Order & excellence 19
Free · About 6 minutes · Your choices stay in this browser tab. The full list with descriptions is in the core values list.
What a values wheel shows
A values wheel is a core values exercise that shows the distance between what matters to you and how you are actually living. You choose six to eight values, rate how fully you are living each one from 0 to 10, and the ratings form a wheel. A round, full wheel means your days broadly reflect your values. A dented one shows exactly where they do not.
It is different from a ranking. The values inventory shows which orientations win when they conflict; the values wheel shows where the gaps are today. Both draw on the ideas set out on the values framework page.
How to use the values wheel
- Choose six to eight values from the grouped list. Pick the ones you would defend if challenged, not the ones that sound admirable. The core values list explains each one in a sentence.
- Define each in a line. “Freedom” for one person means control over their time; for another it means no debt. Your definition decides your rating.
- Rate how fully you are living each one, from 0 to 10, based on the last month rather than a good day or a bad one.
- Read the shape. Look for the two lowest scores, and for pairs that seem to pull against each other.
Conflicts often hide in the high scores. For example, someone might rate achievement at 9 and family at 4, then realise the two are not separate results but the same week seen from two sides. That is a trade-off to decide on deliberately, not a failing. A useful test for any pair you suspect is in tension: if one score went up by two points next month, what would happen to the other?
What to do with your biggest gap
Take the value with the lowest rating and ask three questions. What would one point higher look like in an ordinary week? What is currently taking its place? What is the smallest action I could take in the next seven days? Moving a 3 to a 4 is realistic; aiming for a 9 usually ends in doing nothing.
If you are not sure the values you chose are truly yours, how to elicit values shows the questions that bring out a real hierarchy rather than a wish list.
Limits of the exercise
The wheel reflects your own judgement on one day, so a hard week will dent it. It does not tell you which values are right, and a low score is not a verdict on you. It also depends on the words you chose: a value picked because it sounds right will usually score low for the wrong reason. If a score surprises you, check the definition before the behaviour. Redo it every few months and compare shapes; the movement is more informative than any single wheel.
Questions people ask
What is a values wheel?
A values wheel is a visual exercise in which you choose your core values, rate how fully you are living each one, and plot the ratings around a circle. The shape shows at a glance which values are well served and which are being squeezed.
How many core values should I choose?
Six to eight is a workable number. Fewer can miss something important; more makes the wheel hard to read and the ratings less honest. If you have more candidates, ask which you would still keep if you had to give one up. The ones you would keep belong on the wheel.
What is the difference between a values wheel and a wheel of life?
A wheel of life rates areas of life, such as health, career, money and relationships. A values wheel rates the principles you want to live by, such as honesty, freedom or security, across all those areas. The two work well together.
How often should I redo the values wheel?
Every three to six months, or after a significant change such as a new role, a move or a new relationship. Compare the new wheel with the previous one. The values that moved, and the reasons they moved, are usually the most useful part.