Discover Yourself, Your values and Make the Impact!
Self-Awareness Can Help Leaders More Than an MBA Can
Bill George, a professor of leadership at Harvard Business School, and former CEO of Medtronic, says that self-awareness is the starting point of leadership. Self-awareness is the skill of being aware of our thoughts, emotions, and values from moment to moment. Through self-awareness, we can lead ourselves with authenticity and integrity — and in turn better lead others and our organizations*.
Once Upon A Time
On August the 5th 2021 I attended a charity event under the slogan Fashion with Heart, which was held at the Mercure Gdansk hotel to raise funds for the Dutkiewicz Hospice. During that evening among other activities the PUDU brand fashion show and auctions took place. I was one of the models presenting the grey dress.
When I was preparing for the event and trying on different outfits, the red dress resonated with me. It looked amazing on me, much better than on the hanger. After the show, when I was backstage, the auction for that red dress started. As I could not prove how beautiful the dress looks like on myself I joined the auction. My posture, my facial expression, and what I said aroused desire in several women to own that dress. Finally The winner of the auction paid 3.2 thousand zlotys with a call of 300 zlotys. That was the most fierce battle during that evening.
What is the moral of the story?
If we genuinely believe in something, if this is something we VALUE and we show it with our whole selves we are able to have an IMPACT. ~Małgorzata Kusyk
What do you value the most?
Values are consciously defined standards about what we consider good or bad, worse, better or best. They are enduring beliefs that we consciously choose for ourselves as guidelines in life and work.
Values Exercise (Kouzes-Posner)
- Divide the Values Cards into three piles or use the value list and crossing out
- Values that are extremely important to you
- Values that are moderately important to you
- Values that are not important to you
- Discard the moderately and the not important cards
• Review the extremely important cards one more time
• Choose your top 10 cards and discard the rest - Out of your top 10…Choose 5!
• Record your top 5 values and briefly describe what each value means to you.
Now check out the veracity of the values you have just stated, using two questions:
- How do you spend your money?
- How do you spend your time?
With these two questions, you can determine if the values you claim are developed values that are fully functioning in your life.
For example, you say…
- “I value health.” You bought a gym membership, but you never use it. Maybe you think you have a value around health, but it is an espoused value, not a developed one. A fully developed value for health guides your decision-making. As you are standing in line at the Starbucks, gazing at the high calorie sugar scones, muffins, and coffee cakes, your developed value for health guides your decision to get the banana or spinach feta wrap instead.
Let’s explore Agile values:
Respect
- “I value respect”. Yet, you frequently interrupt and dismiss your colleagues during meetings, undermining the very value you claim to uphold.
- “I value respect”. However, you often make derogatory comments about your co-workers behind their backs, showing a lack of respect for their dignity and worth.
- “I value respect”. Yet, you frequently arrive late to meetings, disregarding the time and effort of others who are punctual and ready to start.
Openness
- “I value openness”. How willing are you to listen to and consider opposing viewpoints, especially when they challenge your own beliefs? Your receptivity to different ideas reflects your commitment to this value.
- “I value openness”. But you rarely share your personal thoughts and emotions with your friends and loved ones, which might hinder meaningful connections and open conversations.
- “I value openness”. How often do you actively seek out diverse perspectives and opinions, and how does your behaviour reflect this value in your decision-making?
Courage
- “I value courage”. However, you often avoid giving constructive feedback to your team members, choosing to maintain harmony instead of addressing necessary improvements.
- “I value courage”. When you witness unethical behaviour at your workplace, your reluctance to report it raises questions about your commitment to this value and its implications for the well-being of your organization.
- “I value courage”. Yet, when faced with a difficult ethical dilemma at work, you chose the path of least resistance rather than standing up for what you believe in.
Commitment
- “I value commitment”. However, you often procrastinate on important tasks, which raises questions about your dedication to the projects you take on.
Focus
- “I value focus”. While you have a to-do list, you frequently find yourself scrolling through social
The best people do not act with a specific task in mind. For them, VALUES are the most important, and they are inspired by a noble higher purpose.
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