Explore Your Values.
by Peter Honey.
Peter Honey Publications, 1999.
A4 ringbinder, 192 pages, £165 plus £4.50 pp.
ISBN 1 902899 01 6.
The announcement that a new Peter Honey collection of self-analytical instruments is due for publication is always of exceptional interest and when my copy arrived, once again I was not disappointed. Peter comments that people are stuffed full of more values, attitudes and beliefs than they realize, these acting as filters affecting the way they see the world, react and behave. He suggests that they have a nasty habit of becoming stubborn, self-fulfilling prophecies – eg all red-headed people are quick-tempered, so you treat them immediately as such – but, having learned that they are malleable can be modified for the better. The collection of checklists is intended to show users how to surface, scrutinise, select and share their values, attitudes and beliefs, initially as self-awareness instruments, but ideal for sharing in a group or team situation. The checklists are preceded by suggestions for their use in half-hour or full-hour slots.
The collection of 13 checklists starts with a warm-up exercise of 40 paired preference statements that obviously owes much to the long and sell-established Learning Styles Questionnaire. The purpose of this instrument, in addition to warming-up is to start the user on the path of identifying and articulating their values, attitudes and beliefs. The 12 principal checklists range from Values and Beliefs about …… Attitudes and Behaviours, Continuous Improvement, and Creating a Learning organization; through …… Influencing, Learning and Development, and Mistakes; to …… Responsibility and Accountability and Strategic Thinking and Planning.
Each checklist contains from 10 to 12 statements which the user might or might not believe about the topic– eg in ‘Mistakes’ the first question is ‘I believe most mistakes are caused by carelessness and/or ignorance’ – the user either ticking or crossing according to whether they believe/don’t believe. The checklists are followed by scoring keys which can be compared with other users’ or with a set of ‘Peter Honey’s comments’ on each item – these include a recommended response, comparison with which can be used to initiate discussion on the topic. Users are then recommended to consider their responses and the comparisons and plan to make modifications as necessary and desirable.
This collection is essential in helping yourself or groups of learners to understand their values, an essential knowledge particularly in interpersonal, interactive, and a wide range of people situations.
Very well recommended.
Leslie Rae, October 1999
