Leading with values
Do you ever get the feeling you are being pulled in different directions, like a boat in a bad storm with no captain steering your ship? Do you sometimes feel like you are just reacting to circumstance rather than consciously making choices, responding and creating opportunities you choose? Imagine if you had your hands on the wheel and were in control, leading yourself and others?
A deeper connection and awareness from your values can provide a sense of direction, meaning and purposeful leadership. Still, many leaders walk through their careers and life unconscious to values, and those that are aware tend to spend little time reflecting on them. Whether you are a leader within an organisation or leading yourself through life, your values influence your decisions, behaviours, and every aspect of your life.
Values are fluid and dynamic and can change over time as we move through life. Research concurs that when we live our values, we live a happier, more fulfilled life. We also need to accept that sometimes it is simply impossible to act in a value congruent manner. Our mind can create strict rules around our values, and they almost become rules that govern and control us, rather than being in the flow with what is appropriate for the moment and situation. Letting go, stepping away from the cognitive constructs and leading with your heart in the moment will keep you sailing calmly through challenges and life.
Why is it important for Leaders to be aware of values?
Consciously leading with values is a tool for increasing values-based actions.
Values will affect decision making.
Leaders need to make tough choices, and decisions made will directly impact themselves and their team’s engagement, happiness, and success. Leaders regularly choose between what is meaningful, what is right, what is easy for themselves, their team, and the business. Self-awareness and connecting to values can help difficult decisions become more manageable. Connection and awareness of values help leaders set priorities in life and business and create focus to help achieve personal and professional success
Values will impact Leader motivation.
Having an awareness of leadership values are highly motivational. When leading a project at work with much meaning, leaders are more likely to enjoy being at work, achieve more and persist in a time of challenge. Arriving home after a long day and connecting with the value of being a loving parent or partner helps to find the energy needed to be present for family despite tiredness. Likewise, if exhausted and don’t feel like exercising, their value of health will be their motivator to exercise, despite the effort required.
Awareness of values prevents emotion-driven behaviour.
Emotion driven behaviour involves actions guided by emotional experiences rather than values. Our emotions can be a powerful motivator in the moment and cause us to react to our circumstances. They can also prevent actions that align with values. Imagine if you wanted to apply for a promotion at work, but fear of rejection stops you from applying. Your feeling of fear prevents you from living in line with your value of achievement. It is essential to take time to reflect on your choices and ask yourself, “Is this choice the result of an emotion or based on what I consider important?” or “In this instance, will following my emotion help me or prevent me from living in line with my values?”.
Values express how you ideally want to behave and will generally lead to fulfilment in life. Remembering you always have a choice at the moment to act or not. It is essential not to make values rigid rules to control your life. Values need to be fluid and held lightly but pursued vigorously.
When Leaders reflect on their life and career using the language of values, they gain a whole new lens through to view themselves and others. Awareness of leadership values are foundational and help build the relationship to self, colleagues, team and the organisation.
Written by:
Darlene Rogers
Leadership Coach
Objective Leader