The next meditation from Ira Chaleff’s book “The Courageous Follower,” is: I am responsible for adhering to the highest values that I can envision. Our values include what we are pursuing as goals or end states and how we behave as we pursue those goals.
Are your values primarily egocentric and self-interested, or do your values reflect the shared aspirations of the group or community that you are a member of? Is your purpose to serve those you have been given the privledge to lead or to be served by your subordinates?
Do you look around at what others in your workplace are doing and then ask yourself what you can probably get away with? Or do you have the courage to do the right thing even if everyone else around you is taking a different path? Do you help others along the way or only help yourself?
You are training yourself to become the leader you need to be when the opportunity to act on behalf of others presents itself. You will never be ready for that time if you don’t prepare your mind, heart, words, and behavior every day that you serve as a follower.
See the big picture and get yourself ready.
Related Posts:
I Am A Steward Of This Group And Share Responsibility For Its Success
ACT Change: Personal Change Through Value Clarification And Alignment Of Behavior
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I have had experience with colleagues of mine who were willing to whatever it took to reach the ‘end state’. At the end of the day we have to live with ourselves, and I have had professional setbacks because I hold myself to a high moral standard. I have also seen huge successes because of the values I choose to uphold. I would advise anyone to follow Bret’s advice and act based on YOUR values.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Welcome, Michael! Keep your eye on the big picture. Minor setbacks now are the price you will have to pay for being ready when you need to be prepared for more important scenarios. I think you have the right perspective. Thanks for sharing! Bret
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I’ve really been enjoying your posts and thanks for inspiring me with the blogging/social media. Integrity means something different to everyone, and why I continue to measure myself against others I do not know.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
It can take a while to free yourself from worrying about what others think. I always care what they think, but what they think does NOT always matter. what matters is what you know to be the right thing to do, not what others think about it. Thanks for sharing! Bret
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Bret,
Critical lesson, thanks for sharing. Your response to Jonathan’s thoughts I found particularly important. We tend to rate ourselves against those on our team which I feel is normal behavior. It has been difficult (but rewarding) for me to maintain that sense of team unity without compromising my values. I think that one of the most difficult things (and one I continue to work on) is “going against the flow” and standing up for my values and what I believe in, in a team environment. Sometimes it is very hard to maintain the big picture. I have a world of respect for those people who can do this easily.
Also, I find that the way in which you manifest your values to others can play a large role in the reception of those actions, so it never has (for me) been as black and white as it is discussed. People and teams are easily turned off by those that completely disregard the team for their values. I believe that you can have both (team unity and consistent values) but it is definitely a process that requires communication and understanding.
Thanks for another great post
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 9:54 am
Alex, is it natural human behavior to compare ourselves to others. It is one of the ways we make sense of our world. I think we have to be aware of that and understand how it influences us and work to have higher standards. You should never disregard the values of your team, but you can and sometimes should disagree with them. The key is what is your purpose when you do so? Thanks again for sharing your thoughts! Bret
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Excellent post, Brett. I agree that we need to look within ourselves and not at others’ priorities or lifestyles when it comes to how we lead our lives. Indeed, what you shared relates very closely to self-empowerment. Harrison Owen once said: “If I empower you, you are still within my power.”
We need to own our individual actions and behaviors and how we wish to contribute to society throughout our short lifetimes.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Jim, I LOVE that quote you provided! It is so true. We have to stop looking to others to empower us. Only you can empower yourself, and you have more power than you might realize. Thanks for sharing! Bret
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Hi Bret,
This article really struck a cord with me. In my coaching and consulting work I at times find myself taking courage to stand up for my values and speak out against something that I feel goes against them. I do this particularly when I judge it to be in the interests of a wider group of people than the person I am addressing, normally a senior leader. There are times when I am cold-shouldered for a while or even balled-out for what I say. But by and large, people ultimately respect me more for being myself than for playing some game.
Thanks for these great articles.
Best wishes
Christine
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Thanks for sharing this very personal insight, Christine! You know if we want to really stretch and grow as individuals we have to be willing to face the rejection by the crowd that simply wants us to conform so they can remain comfortable. And YOU respect yourself more by not playing the game. That’s huge. Thanks!! Bret
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