As a leader, someone who doesn’t wait to take action, it is easy for you to recognize the need for change and naturally dive into forming a strategy to bring it about. However, many leaders overlook the importance of reinforcing good values and how values are the driving force behind significant change.
“Values are principles that guide your decisions and behaviors. When those values are good, they bring only benefits — never harm — to yourself and others.” John Maxwell, Change Your World
The Importance of Good Values in Changing the World
Many people assume that everyone will naturally learn and live out good values without actively discussing and prioritizing them.
Everybody lives by a set of values whether we’re aware of them or not. Our values are what drive our core belief systems, and that turns into information that forms our thoughts and drives our actions.
If we don’t actively learn and practice acting upon the good values, they can become nothing more than a mere preference.
For instance, when we are confronted with the decision of waking up at 5 am to exercise or going back to sleep, our values pertaining to having a healthy body come into play. Similarly, when presented with the option of having a donut or a green smoothie for breakfast, our choices regarding what we consume also demonstrate our values.
While it is generally understood that eating healthy and exercising are important, our actions often reflect our true values and take precedence.
Former U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt once said, “A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.” His point was that education alone is not enough; without a foundation of good values, our efforts to make a positive impact in the world will fall short.
This notion has been recognized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an organization that traditionally focused on poverty reduction and economic development. They have now expanded their focus to include teaching values such as responsibility, self-control, empathy, cooperation, and self-efficacy.
What defines a good value?
In John Maxwell’s book, “Change Your World,” he emphasizes that to make a difference, we shouldn’t solely focus on personal success but rather on embracing and living out good values.
Defining a good value is straightforward: it is something that brings benefits without causing harm to oneself or others.
You might be wondering how embracing good values can actually change the world or impact an organization.
The answer lies in influencing the culture around you.
Because values are so integral to our belief system and impact our thoughts and actions, it is the responsibility of leaders to cultivate and practice good values that will bring about the desired change.
As Diane Kalen-Sukra, author of “Save Your City: How Toxic Culture Kills Community & What to Do About It,” states, culture is like a forest, with core values as the seeds. When these values manifest as behaviors, they grow into trees, shaping the cultural landscape. Unhealthy values produce infertile and troubled forests, while good values create a healthy cultural ecosystem that supports life. One is sustainable, while the other is not.
To influence change in your surroundings, you must start by planting the seeds of good values in your own life and in the lives of others. This will grow a healthy cultural environment that can sustain your strategies.
Accept the Challenge
Remember, transformational leaders not only identify problems but also take action to address them. I challenge you to read John Maxwell’s book, “Change Your World: How Anyone, Anywhere Can Make A Difference,” and let it inspire you to become a catalyst for powerful, positive change.
