When the Way Is Unclear, Values Lead the Way
- Bonny Boice
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Reflection to follow up June’s Ripples of Leadership newsletter
In this month’s newsletter, I shared a story about leaving a meeting to coach my daughter’s softball game. It was a small moment—but it was guided by something big: my values.
When the path ahead is foggy, when decisions feel conflicted, when fear or judgment creeps in—values are what help me find my footing.
But values aren’t just words we post on a wall. They’re lived. They’re chosen. And sometimes, they’re hard to follow.
That day in the meeting, I was nervous. I was the only woman in the room. I had no idea how my exit would be received. But I had a mantra, gifted to me by a mentor, that echoed in my mind:
“The ultimate result of all ambition is a happy home.”
So I left. And in doing so, I felt more aligned with who I am—not just as a leader, but as a person.
A Practice for Clarifying Your Values
One of the most powerful tools for values-based leadership is clarity—not about the future, but about yourself. The more you know what truly matters to you, the easier it becomes to lead with consistency, humility, and courage.
Here’s a simple practice I invite you to try:
1. Read the list below
.2. Circle or write down five values that resonate with you right now.
3. Reflect:
- Are my recent choices aligned with these values?
- Where might I be off-course?
- How would I lead differently if I let these values guide me more often?
Sample Values List:
Accuracy, Achievement, Adventure, Authority, Autonomy, Caring, Challenge, Change, Comfort, Compassion, Contribution, Cooperation, Courtesy, Creativity, Dependability, Duty, Family, Forgiveness, Friendship, Fun, Generosity, Genuineness, Growth, Health, Helpfulness, Honesty, Humility, Humor, Justice, Knowledge, Leisure, Mastery, Moderation, Nonconformity, Openness, Order, Passion, Popularity, Power, Purpose, Rationality, Realism, Responsibility, Risk, Safety, Self-knowledge, Service, Simplicity, Stability, Tolerance, Tradition, Wealth
Questions for You
What are your five?
What decisions are in front of you right now that would feel different if you acted from your deepest values?
Let this be your gentle nudge back to what matters most.
✨ Want more reflections like this?
Read the full June edition of Ripples of Leadership on LinkedIn
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