Growth Beyond Boundaries Podcast

Podcast Summary and Show Notes

Podcast Title: Growth Beyond Boundaries
Episode Title: Episode 23: Finding Your Compass: Values in Leadership and Life
Release Date: January 10, 2025
Hosts: Andy Huckaba with Phyllis Collins and Teresa Schwab

Summary

In this episode of the Growth Beyond Boundaries podcast, Andy, Phyllis, and Teresa delve into the pivotal role values play in personal and organizational growth. The conversation begins by contrasting resolutions, which focus on goals, with values, which define who we aspire to be. They explore the complexities of identifying, understanding, and living by core values, emphasizing their importance in decision-making and leadership.

The discussion highlights the tension between personal values and organizational standards, the challenges of competing values, and the significance of stated versus unstated values in workplace culture. Using metaphors like the compass, the hosts explain how values serve as a guide, particularly in challenging situations, and offer strategies for listeners to identify and align with their values.

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own values, consider how these impact their decisions, and embrace values as a continuous journey of self-discovery.

Key Takeaways

1. Understanding Values:
• Values represent what we care about most and are often non-negotiable.
• They are shaped by upbringing, cultural influences, and personal experiences.
• Values are distinct from strengths and needs, though they can overlap.
2. Living by Values:
• Values need to be stated, understood, and lived.
• Alignment with values brings clarity and fulfillment; misalignment can cause unease.
3. Competing Values:
• Decision-making often involves navigating between competing values.
• Open discussions and a transparent process help leaders resolve conflicts effectively.
4. Organizational Values:
• Stated values on walls often differ from lived values in culture.
• Leaders should ensure organizational values align with actions at all levels.
5. Personal Reflections:
• Reflect on past challenges to uncover deeply held values.
• Recognize triggers and discomfort as signals of values being tested.

Practical Exercises

• Discover Your Values: Reflect on three challenging moments in your life and ask:
• What guided my decisions during those times?
• What did I care about most in those situations?
• Daily Observations: Notice:
• What activities or people energize you?
• What values do they reflect?
• Cultural Alignment Check: Evaluate your organization’s culture:
• Are the stated values aligned with everyday actions?
• How do unstated norms influence decisions?

Recommended Resources

1. Books:
• Lead Bigger: The Transformative Power of Inclusion  by Ann Chow (focus on simplifying values into being stated, understood, and lived). https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Lead-Bigger/Anne-Chow/9781668024003
2. Frameworks:
• Robert Kegan’s Immunity to Change: Explores the impact of competing values. https://a.co/d/4hQWQPm
3. Related Podcasts:
• Coaching for Leaders featuring Ann Chow. https://coachingforleaders.com/podcast/clarifying-values-workplace-people-love-anne-chow/

Quotes to Remember

• “Values are your compass—when something feels off, it’s time to realign.” – Teresa Schwab
• “Your choices reflect your values; they show what matters most to you.” – Andy
• “Living with integrity means aligning actions with values, even when it’s hard.” – Phyllis Collins

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/fourth-dogma/blue-garland⁠

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