Inspire Team

Values Auction

by for .  
#entrepreneurial mindset
60 +
2

Goal

In this activity, participants will engage in a values auction where they have the opportunity to "buy" values using a set amount of currency. The activity aims to help participants identify and prioritize their personal values by considering the value they place on each item in the auction.

Attachments

Materials

    Instructions

    1. Begin by explaining the purpose of the activity: to explore and determine personal values through a simulated auction.

    2. Prepare a list of 50+ values on separate cards or display them digitally for participants to see.

      1. Ensure learners have time to review all of the values in advance, before the bidding process begins.

      2. Invite them to identify at least 5 values that they would like to bid on before bidding starts

    3. Distribute a predetermined amount of auction currency (e.g., play money, tokens, virtual dots) to each participant.

    4. Explain the auction rules: Participants will bid on the values they find most important by using their auction currency. They can choose to spend all their money on one value of great importance, for example or distribute it across multiple values.

    5. Facilitation tip: The facilitator’s energy and enthusiasm is key to this activity. Acting out the part of an auctioneer can help learners get into the activity.

    6. Start the auction by displaying or reading out one value at a time. Invite participants to share their understanding of what that value means or represents. Participants can raise their hands or indicate their bids using their auction currency.

    7. Facilitate the auction process, allowing participants to compete with their bids until there are no further increases in bids.

    8. Record the final value and the corresponding participant who "won" the bid.

    9. Continue the auction with the remaining values, repeating steps 5-7.

    10. After the auction concludes, facilitate a group discussion where participants can reflect on the values they prioritized, their understanding or interpretation of each value, the strategies they used in the auction, and the reasons behind their decisions.

    11. Encourage participants to share insights gained from the activity and discuss the significance of their prioritized values in shaping their lives and decision-making processes.

    Background

    Preparation

    • Create a list of 50+ values on separate cards or in a digital format (see examples below)

    • Prepare an equal amount of auction currency (e.g., play money, tokens) for each participant.

    Technology Considerations

    In-person implementation: No specific technology considerations.

    Virtual implementation: Utilize virtual whiteboard platforms or collaborative tools that allow participants to bid and display values. This could include using digital sticky notes to display the full set of values, and the chat function to have learners place their bids.

    Additional Context

    • Remind participants that the purpose of the activity is to help them reflect on their personal values, and there are no right or wrong answers in the auction.

    • Emphasize the idea of limited resources (auction currency) as a representation of the finite amount of attention and importance that can be assigned to different values.

    • Consider whether you want to include multiple of the same value in the auction, so more than one person can “win” a value that might be heavily desired.


    Debrief Questions

    1. Think about the values you "bought" in the auction. What did you learn about what matters most to you and how important these values are in your life?

    2. Think about the difficulties you faced during the auction. How did you decide which values to bid on and how much "currency" to use?

    3. Share one value that surprised you or had a significant impact on your decision-making during the auction. Why did it stand out to you?

    4. How do the values you prioritized in the auction align with your everyday choices and actions? How might they influence your personal and professional relationships?

    5. When you think back on what you did, how can you use the values you cared about more when you make decisions? How can you live a life that sticks more to your values?

    6. How did everyone feel about having to bid on personal values for money? 

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