Validate your values hierarchy against 3 past decisions…
Test your stated values hierarchy against three past difficult decisions to verify whether it produces the choices you actually made—if it doesn't, either the hierarchy is miscalibrated or the past choices violated your values, and both discoveries are actionable.
When This Fires
- After constructing a values hierarchy (Rank values through pairwise comparison — 'If I could only…)
- When you suspect your stated priorities don't match your actual behavior (Audit your last seven days of behavior against stated…, Your operating principles must explain your actual…)
- During annual values reviews when checking hierarchy validity
- When a values hierarchy "feels right" but hasn't been tested against behavioral evidence
Common Failure Mode
Selecting easy past decisions that confirm the hierarchy: "I chose family over work that one time — my hierarchy is validated!" Select difficult decisions where the trade-off was genuinely painful. Easy decisions don't test the hierarchy because both values were easily satisfiable. Only decisions where you sacrificed something significant reveal actual priority ordering.
The Protocol
(1) After establishing your values hierarchy (Rank values through pairwise comparison — 'If I could only…), select three past difficult decisions where two of your listed values were in genuine conflict. (2) For each: what did you actually choose? Which value won in practice? (3) Compare to your stated hierarchy: does the stated ranking predict the actual choice? (4) If 3/3 match → hierarchy is validated. It reflects your actual priorities. (5) If mismatches exist → diagnose: Are you satisfied with the past choice? If yes → the hierarchy is miscalibrated. Update the ranking to match revealed preferences. Are you unsatisfied (regretful)? If yes → the hierarchy is correct but you failed to follow it under pressure. Design stronger commitment mechanisms for future conflicts. (6) This validation should be repeated after each hierarchy update.