Next Level Leadership: God's Plan And Purpose For Youናሙና

Cling to Your Values

I have spent many sleepless nights worrying about how to solve pressing problems, and inevitably I turned to my values to guide my decisions. 

For example, one of my values is stewardship. During a business downturn, I made the difficult decision to cut budgets and positions based on what I thought was right and best for the company, not what would benefit any one department or person, including myself. As hard as it was, I felt confident in my decision and found it easier to explain to others.

It’s sometimes tempting to see values as a limiting force – an anchor holding us back from opportunities others successfully pursue. But values aren’t limiting; they are lifesaving. They hold us steady in the storms that can overwhelm us, especially as we rise to face greater challenges in leadership. 

In this #MeToo era driven by social media, leaders and their companies are quickly exposed for allowing unhealthy cultures to take hold. Leading in alignment with your values helps you become a more authentic, effective leader in an age when behaviors are looked at more closely than ever. 

Having clear values is especially critical during challenging times. When there’s a crisis in your organization or you face a difficult decision, you often feel pressured to act even when you don’t have all the information you need or there is no clear choice. Knowing what you believe in can help you move forward with confidence despite uncertainty. 

Scripture is full of guiding principles for our values. Jesus summed it up with the Great Commandment: love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and then to love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:38-39) And we can feel confident we’re leading with biblical values when the fruit of the Spirit is evident in our leadership. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Rise to the Challenge

Reflect on the principles that guide your thinking and actions. Jot down four or five words that represent your values – word like achievement, courage, curiosity, decisiveness, faith, family, growth, humor, integrity, love, patience, risk, service, trust, winning, wisdom ... Then ask yourself three questions:

· Do these values capture the essence of who I am and who I am striving to become?

· How am I bringing these values to life?

· What needs to change for me to live as a values-based leader?

Prayer

Father, you are my guiding light. Keep me on the right path. Amen.