Practices for Emotional Agility: Aligning Actions with Values

Developing emotional agility is not just about managing thoughts and emotions—it's also about aligning your actions with your values. For new managers, this can significantly enhance leadership effectiveness and job satisfaction.

When you unhook yourself from difficult thoughts and emotions, you expand your choices. You can decide to act in a way that aligns with your values. We encourage leaders to focus on the concept of workability: Is your response going to serve you and your organization in the long term as well as the short term? Will it help you steer others in a direction that furthers your collective purpose? Are you taking a step toward being the leader you most want to be and living the life you most want to live? Values are your core principles and beliefs that guide your behavior and decisions.

As a new manager, understanding and acting on your values can help you lead with integrity and consistency. When your actions align with your values, you build trust and credibility with your team. Here are some Steps to Identify and Act on Your Values

Step 1: Identify Your Core Values

Start by identifying your core values. Reflect on what matters most to you in your personal and professional life. Consider values such as honesty, respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability. Write down your top values and think about how they influence your decisions and actions.

Step 2: Reflect on Past Experiences

Think about past experiences where you felt truly satisfied and fulfilled in your work. What values were you honoring in those situations? Conversely, reflect on times when you felt frustrated or disconnected. What values were being compromised? This reflection can help you gain clarity on your core values.

Step 3: Align Actions with Values

Once you have identified your core values, make a conscious effort to align your actions with them. This means making decisions and taking actions that reflect your values, even in challenging situations. For example, if one of your core values is transparency, ensure that you communicate openly and honestly with your team.

Applying Values in Decision-Making

When faced with a difficult decision, use your values as a guide. Ask yourself:

• Does this decision align with my core values?
• Will this action help me become the leader I want to be?
• Is this response serving the long-term goals of my team and organization?

By considering these questions, you can make decisions that are consistent with your values and contribute to your overall effectiveness as a leader.

Implementing Emotional Agility Practices

Here are four practices adapted from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help new managers develop emotional agility:

1. Recognize Your Patterns: Notice when you're hooked by thoughts and feelings.
2. Label Your Thoughts and Emotions: Identify them as transient data.
3. Accept Them: Respond with an open attitude.
4. Act on Your Values: Align your actions with your core principles.

Think of your values as a guiding star. No matter how turbulent the waters, they provide direction and purpose, helping you navigate challenges and make decisions that align with your true self.

Aligning your actions with your values offers several benefits:

1. Increased Self-Awareness: Understanding your values helps you become more self-aware, which is crucial for effective leadership.
2. Consistency in Leadership: Acting on your values ensures that your behavior is consistent, which builds trust and credibility with your team.
3. Better Decision-Making: Values-driven decisions are often more thoughtful and aligned with long-term goals.
4. Enhanced Job Satisfaction: When your actions align with your values, you are more likely to feel fulfilled and satisfied in your role.

To develop a values-driven leadership style, consider the following strategies:

1. Communicate Your Values: Share your values with your team and explain how they influence your decisions and actions. This transparency can build trust and foster a positive team culture.
2. Lead by Example: Demonstrate your values through your actions. For instance, if you value respect, ensure that you treat everyone with dignity and consideration.
3. Encourage a Values-Based Culture: Promote a values-based culture within your team by recognizing and rewarding behaviors that align with your core values.
4. Reflect and Adjust: Regularly reflect on your actions and decisions to ensure they align with your values. If you find discrepancies, adjust your behavior accordingly.

By incorporating these strategies into your leadership approach, you can create a more authentic and effective leadership style.

Aligning your actions with your values is a powerful way to enhance your leadership as a new manager. By developing emotional agility through these practices, you can manage your thoughts and emotions more effectively and make decisions that reflect your core principles. If you found this article helpful, subscribe to my LinkedIn newsletter, New Manager Playbook. It's where I share tips and insights to help new managers become effective leaders. Also, check out my LinkedIn posts on leadership for new managers. Let's connect and grow together.