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In order to succeed professionally, you need to understand the range of values you hold and how these link to the academic environment and beyond. Identifying your own values and preferences can be challenging, and combining them all to become a fully rounded academic and research leader is an ongoing endeavour.

There will be many opportunities for you to consider your identity, goals and values throughout your research career, and your overall research identity will be crafted and shaped over time. This identity will combine your research interests and experience with your personal goals and values-driven behaviours.

A way to begin is to consider in detail the variety of values that can exist in a work context and how you can integrate these to succeed in your research career.

Select each of the outer segments to learn about some key dimensions of different types of values. Select the central intersection to consider how they all come together.

Continue on to learn about some key dimensions of different types of values. Consider the section 'Your research practice and values' to understand how they all come together.

Your values often translate into a preference for certain types of tasks, interactions and activities. Being an academic and research leader is multifaceted and at times highly demanding. Considering where your preferences and motivations lie can be invaluable in planning for your career development.

Whilst being rewarding and stimulating, the academic context is often full of tension and ambiguity, so it is vital for early career academics to understand that the role of an academic may require the juggling of many contrasting tasks and responsibilities (Kligyte, 2011). In order to 'juggle' effectively, alongside integrating the values dimensions explored above, it can be helpful to consider where your task-related strengths and preferences lie.

 Portfolio activity Portfolio activity

Source a values statement that conveys the values and priorities of a team or organisation that is relevant to you, and use the prompts provided in the 'Reflecting on values statement' template to reflect on it.

From your own context and experiences, think about the following tasks and responsibilities. Identify which ones you have a preference for (or not) by selecting a category button first and then selecting all the responsibilities that you think belong in that category. Repeat this process for the other buttons as well. A 'View summary' button will appear when you finish, allowing you to save the list.

From your own context and experiences, think about the tasks and responsibilities mentioned in the activity. Identify which ones you have a preference for (or not) – you may choose to sort them into three categories: 'Love it', 'It is okay' or 'No thanks'.

 Love it It is okay No thanks Managing people and projects Processing data Grant writing Peer review Developing others through supervision, line management, learning opportunities and coaching Teaching excellence Shaping policy and practice through collaboration Problem solving Being on committees Interacting with university support services Engaging with industry and translating research into practice Writing formal publications Setting a vision or strategy Sourcing funding and income Public and media engagement Promoting and supporting diversity and inclusion Blogging, tweeting or video production Presenting at conferences/symposia/workshops Community outreach and dissemination Cultivating research collaborations

In this activity, you are asked to place items into one of the following groups. There are no correct or incorrect answers:

  • Love it
  • It is okay
  • No thanks

Here is the list of tasks and responsibilities that you are asked to place into one of the above listed groups:

  • Peer review
  • Developing others through supervision, line management, learning opportunities and coaching
  • Being on committees
  • Presenting at conferences/symposia/workshops
  • Sourcing funding and income
  • Shaping policy and practice through collaboration
  • Public and media engagement
  • Managing people and projects
  • Teaching excellence
  • Engaging with industry and translating research into practice
  • Setting a vision or strategy
  • Problem solving
  • Grant writing
  • Promoting and supporting diversity and inclusion
  • Blogging, tweeting or video production
  • Processing data
  • Writing formal publications
  • Interacting with university support services
  • Community outreach and dissemination
  • Cultivating research collaborations

All of the above are commonly expected research tasks and are therefore facets of a successful research career. Some will chime more strongly with your preferences and enable you to play to your values. Your identity will evolve as you build an integrated and progressive range of personal and research capabilities.

It is valuable to continually review which aspects of academic life you get most satisfaction from, in order to make strategic career choices. Do you demonstrate autonomy in choosing research topics, your teaching style and the knowledge you share? If so, how? Your self-knowledge helps you to make ongoing strategic decisions and navigate the academic landscape, as well as setting you up for opportunities beyond academia.

 Additional information Additional information

Depending on your discipline, 'industry' could include commercial ventures, consulting firms, public sector, not-for-profits, healthcare providers, community groups and philanthropic organisations.

Recognising opportunities for building self-awareness, values alignment and professional experience will all stand you in good stead for a fulfilling and impactful research career. You can explore your research identity in more detail in the module Reflective practice and career development.