Written by Ronnie Dunn
There are those moments when you read something, maybe it’s a quote, a phrase, or just someone’s perspective on something that simply resonates with you.
John G. Blumberg introduced the concept of the drift in his book, called Return on Integrity.
The drift refers to our human propensity to incrementally, and at times subconsciously move away from our core values until one day, we wake up in a place we never meant to be, drifting in a direction we never would have chosen.
It speaks to the importance of having a set of core values that anchors us as individuals, and how that translates into the broader context of a person as a leader.
None among us are perfect, and we have all, at times, drifted away from what we would define as our core values and guiding principles. However, having solid core values can serve as a fundamental pillar to correct or slow this drift.
Being firm on your core values can help you identify the starting point. This is important because, if you don’t know where you started, or where you are now, how will you know when you’ve left?
In the kid’s story, Alice famously asked the Cheshire cat, what road do I take? to which the cat asked, where do you want to go? I don’t know Alice answered, then, said the cat, it really doesn’t matter which way you go now does it?
Core values give us direction, it allows us to have courage in the moment regardless of the cost, and it anchors us during the storms of life.
Calm seas do not a good sailor make, in this life, the storms will come, the tests will come; and when they do, is an absolutely horrible time to start figuring out your core values.
Some people may now be asking, how do I find my core values?
Core values are not a branding exercise or an intellectual one, it is an emotional awakening.
I was recently in a forum where a group was seeking to determine their corporate culture and core values by picking from a series of buzz words written on a flip chart. There were words like honesty, trust, commitment, loyalty etc.
The problem is, picking a buzz word from a list doesn’t make it your core value.
You see, the mission isn’t to discover the definition of core value, the mission is to discover the values at your core. They are less about what you are willing to live by, and more about what you are willing to live for.
Core values allows you to lead one, You!
Through self-discipline you can lead many, but if you can’t lead yourself, you can’t lead any.
Mastering self-discipline, through an awareness of your core values, and using those to direct wants, behaviors and actions are fundamental to developing effective leadership.
In starting my own business, I had to decide early on how I wanted to live this chapter of my life, and the tone I wanted to exemplify for my team.
That required that I first understood who I was, and the fundamental values at my core that I wanted to live by.
Two fundamental beacons that have guided me throughout my life are respect and humility, they are also two of my personal core values and exemplify how I have chosen to live my life.
We get different things from our experiences through this journey of life.
As you begin to think about the values at your core, you will find that the truth was always there, ignoring that truth doesn’t change the truth, but ignoring the truth can certainly change us.
Living in conflict with yourself can be a miserable and empty feeling; you see this when things that you thought would make you happy … a nice car, money, a fancy title etc. actually still leaves you feeling empty and unfulfilled.
We are who we are, embrace it, live your own truth, it will lead to a more fulfilling existence and a more gratifying experience on this journey called life.
Written by Ronnie Dunn