Self Leadership – Be True to Your Values

We often find ourselves in unpredictable situations where we have to choose between good and evil. This is not the time to decide where you stand. I believe that if you are going to achieve greatness you must predetermine what your value system is beforehand. What really matters to you in terms of moral character, business integrity, and generally having a reference point from which you make decisions? If you are going to be truly self-directed and true to yourself, you must have clear moral, ethical, or spiritual values.

I’m sure you’ve heard it said before that when you’re in Rome do as the Romans do. It sounds good if the intent is relevant and blends in with social norms so you don’t become a misfit. Not good advice if you now have to double down on your values ​​and behave like a chameleon that changes color to suit its surroundings. Character inconsistencies cannot be your part if you are going to be a self-directed person of high integrity. It is important to know what your values ​​are so that you are consistent with your character, making your actions predictable in any environment in which you find yourself.

I remember how I was once inconsistent as a youngster during my boarding school days. There was a time when it was frowned upon to enjoy and listen to secular music in our Christian circles. So we all publicly declared that we would not listen to secular music. Being in the boarding school, it was easy to “maintain” this value during the school term. After all, exposure opportunities were few and far between. The story would change when the school vacation time came. As soon as he got home, he would be the first to turn up the volume on the radio. My favorite radio station was playing secular hits all day and now I was in my element and having fun.

Now, you might be thinking that what I just shared is peer pressure for a teenage high school student. How many times in our adult lives have we stood up for what we believed in when it was convenient and backed down when it was uncomfortable to stay true to our ethical values? We often look for expediency instead of what we think is the right thing to do. For this reason, it is necessary to clarify our values ​​so that they become a compass that directs our path, shapes our decisions and guides what we prioritize.

Clear values ​​are the pillars on which life is built. These are non-negotiable guiding principles that determine what you will or will not do, whether someone is watching or not, whether or not you get caught. They are a self-accountability mechanism. The values ​​will guide you in the right direction in your school, work, marriage or wherever you are. It takes talent to succeed, but clear values ​​are the backbone of sustained success. It doesn’t matter which way the wind blows; you are firm, solid and grounded in what you believe.

Values ​​make life easier because you’ve made a decision about who you are and from then on you’re just sticking to them. You need to determine what your values ​​are in terms of your spiritual life, family, intellectual life, well-being, fitness, personal wealth, business, and your career. When you get unstuck and don’t know what to do, refer to your values. I once worked for a company that had a “code of business principles” that they strictly adhered to, even if it meant closing operations in certain countries. As far as I can remember, they never flinched. Did it cost them some chances? Yes! They suffered major setbacks in terms of business operations, but the company survived the terrible times.

You may be challenged to bend the rules and take shortcuts for instant gratification and temporary gains, especially when times are tough financially. You may not get that big order, miss out on quick and easy money, that’s okay! I was once fired from a job as a sales manager because I wasn’t producing sales results. He never seemed to be able to close a sale because buyers with a lot of “buck” expected to be bribed. It was going against my values ​​and I lost because I stood my ground. Be true to your values, let the opportunity pass, and I guarantee that you will survive and emerge on the other side with your integrity, reputation, and values ​​intact. You will be able to attract opportunities where that kind of integrity is a requirement for success.