The Power in Your Values.

When I was 8 years old I decided that it was acceptable to take some something from a local sweet shop that my mother had not paid for, it really did not matter it was just a small pack of refresher sweets..... at least that was my naive thought at that tender age. When she discovered what I had done she asked me to go back into the shop and hand back my ill gotten gains and explain my actions to the owner. The shop owner explained to me everyday he got up at 5.00am opened his shop and did not leave until late in the evening - to sell his sweets and feed his family. It was a searing experience. I left the shop with my head bowed feeling very chastened - I did not know what the word dishonesty meant at that age, but I vowed never to have the feeling in my stomach again that my actions had generated.

Charlie was in his early 60s, he had worked hard all his life but was now close to retirement. He really ought to have been slowing down. Yet everyday he got up, he went though the same routines, prepared his bag meticulously, made sure he had everything, left in good time and always came home talking about the efforts of the day and what he had done. He never complained and he never took work for granted or those he worked with. He was a special man. But then I was biased ... because I was his grandson who saw this humble shipbuilder as his hero.

At 14 I was considered a star of my junior cricket team. I was going places.... and off the back of that so were my team ... we were winning everything. I thought I was superman. Then we played our closest rivals and we got beat... despite my heroics. I was mortified and in tears .... how could this happen? What more could I have done? As the dressing room emptied I was left alone in the corner, my head in a towel. Terry my coach had waited. Very patiently until we were alone. “Hurts doesn’t it?” He said. “I couldn’t do anymore Terry!” I blurted. “Yes you could Steve.” Was his response. “What?” I pleaded. “Your only as good as those around you - help them get better and you will be better!” “Work with your teammates not on your own.”

Values are a subject that often get disengaged from performance - they are all well good but they have no meaning. They are perceived as soft. You have to do what we have to do get the job done in the modern era. Right?

But.... how do we deliver sustainable results without people engagement and inspiration? Without this we are left with coercion and the short term JFDI school of leadership.

And to inspire, people must trust our motives and intentions towards them at the most fundamental level. They must believe and see that we are prepared to work hard ourselves, we will act with integrity towards them and we will help and support them in becoming the best they can be first and foremost in a selfless way.

Our values play a huge part in shaping that. We cannot walk the talk everyday unless we are very clear about what shapes our thinking and why we do what we do. They are the fuel that powers actions which then demonstrate authenticity and trust.

We must also invest time in reflecting on our values and why they are important to us. They are precious and easily lost under pressure, so we must never forget where they came from and why we acquired them. It’s great to share them.

You can shape your values from many experiences in life, mine came from some of my most important role models and young mentors. What is clear is we must have them, live them, apply them and believe they deliver results through inspiring others to achieve. Or do we go back to JFDI ? Our choice, but no choice if we want lasting results. Great values deliver great results.

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