The importance of staying true to your core values as a leader

Why is staying true to your core values important as a leader??

This is a question I’ve thought about quite a bit over the course of my life and tried to answer for myself.?

Many of us may realize the need to be true to our values professionally, at work, but of course we really need to do that at home. We owe it to those we love. I have always tried to do that, with more success some days than others. For example, as a perfectionist, I have to keep reminding myself that not everything is a 10, and whatever I’m working on is not going to end up in the Library of Congress, so I need to have my priorities straight and focus on the people (my family) and the things that matter.

Staying true to your purpose and calling in life, even when it’s uncomfortable, shows us a path forward. I sometimes describe it as taking the 'harder but better path' in decisions and in life. The ‘easy’ solution isn’t always the best one; however, as you learn to trust in yourself and intuition, it will ultimately create the future you desire.?

Core values matter in leadership. They are your friend, acting as guardrails that help keep you and your organization from making egregious errors. Having well-defined core values and remaining true to them helps you set clear priorities and make better decisions, even in ambiguous situations.

A good friend of mine - one of my Academy classmates, a fellow fighter pilot and later, airline pilot - always comes to my mind when I think about core values and what it means to live them every day. He was an exceptional person. He didn't have to tell you what he believed or what his values were because he made them real every day. They were apparent. If you spent enough time around him and paid attention, you knew what they were. He was one of those rare people who not only had real core values but tried to live authentically everyday. For the last several years, I’ve been trying to live up to his example.?

I learned from my parents and grandparents, and through object lessons at the United States Air Force Academy, a sense of duty, of service above self, and a willingness to share our society's sacrifices. And these values have served me well throughout my life:

• Integrity?
• Courage
• Compassion

Integrity involves doing the right thing at the right time for the right reasons (even when it is not convenient or no one sees it). Courage is not the absence of fear, but doing what is required in spite of it. Compassion can be as simple as caring about someone other than oneself.?

By trying to model these attitudes and behaviors for our daughters, Lorrie and I know they will have the values they need to guide their lives.