The Values Auction
This overview introduces the engaging values auction activity. Designed as a team building exercise, this particular values auction activity requires just 20–25 minutes to complete. Setup is easy (prepare value cards and budget points) with an estimated cost of free to very low. Its business value: clarifying team priorities, encouraging meaningful discussion about culture, and strengthening alignment.
What is The Values Auction?
The Values Auction is a reflective team building activity where participants bid on organizational values or priorities using a limited budget.
Instead of simply listing values like “innovation” or “transparency”, teams must decide how much each value is worth to them.
Example values might include:
speed
quality
innovation
collaboration
customer satisfaction
work-life balance
Because budgets are limited, teams must debate trade-offs and decide what matters most.
The activity often sparks insightful discussions about team culture and priorities.
How do you run The Values Auction?
Divide participants into teams of 3–5 people.
Give each team a fictional budget (for example 100 points).
Prepare a list of value cards to auction one by one.
Explain the challenge clearly:
“Your team must bid on the values that matter most for your success.”
Run the auction process:
Present a value.
Teams secretly decide their bid.
Conduct the auction.
Award the value to the highest bidder.
Continue until all values have been auctioned.
At the end, each team explains why they prioritized certain values.
The full team building activity typically runs 20–25 minutes.
Why it’s great for a team
Many organizations display values on posters but rarely discuss what they actually mean in practice.
The Values Auction forces teams to confront real priorities.
In one short team building exercise, it helps teams:
clarify cultural priorities
encourage meaningful discussion about values
surface differences in perspective
strengthen alignment around shared goals
connect culture with decision-making
Participants often discover that individuals interpret the same value differently.
This creates valuable dialogue about what the team truly stands for.
It is particularly effective:
in leadership workshops
during team offsites
when defining team culture
in newly formed teams
From an organizational development perspective, exercises that force value trade-offs help teams align culture with real behavior.
How to organize it effectively
Value selection is the biggest success factor.
Choose values that are:
relevant to the organization
sometimes competing with each other
open to interpretation
Avoid values that feel too obvious or universally agreed upon.
As facilitator, encourage teams to justify their bids.
For larger groups, compare the outcomes between teams to highlight different perspectives.
In remote team building sessions, digital polling or chat bids can replicate the auction format.
End with a reflection discussion:
“Which value generated the most debate?”
“What does this tell us about our team culture?”
When well facilitated, The Values Auction is a meaningful team building activity that transforms abstract cultural concepts into concrete discussions about priorities and behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Values Auction activity?
The Values Auction is an engaging team-building exercise designed to help individuals and groups identify and prioritize their core values. Participants "bid" on various values, simulating resource allocation to reveal what truly matters most to them and the team.
What are the benefits of conducting a Values Auction for my team?
This activity clarifies cultural priorities, strengthens team cohesion, and promotes open dialogue about personal and organizational values. It helps align team members, leading to better decision-making and a more harmonious work environment.
Who is the Values Auction best suited for?
The Values Auction is ideal for any team or organization seeking to define or refine its culture, from new startups establishing core principles to established companies undergoing change. It is particularly effective for leadership teams and departments aiming for greater alignment and understanding.
How long does a typical Values Auction session take?
A standard Values Auction activity usually takes between 60 to 90 minutes to complete, including introduction, bidding rounds, and a crucial debrief discussion. The exact duration can vary based on the group's size and the depth of the post-activity reflection.
What materials are needed to facilitate a Values Auction?
You'll typically need a predefined list of values, "money" (real or play), pens, and paper or a whiteboard for recording selections and discussions. A skilled facilitator to guide the process and encourage participation is also essential for a successful session.