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Dear Carolyn,
“There is no simple explanation for anything important any of us do, and the human tragedy, or the human irony, consists in the necessity of living with the consequences of actions performed under the pressure of compulsions so obscure we do not and cannot understand them.” ― Hugh MacLennan, The Watch that Ends the Night
Does this quote sound familiar? It was later turned into a lyric in Courage by the Tragically Hip. It became a popular song about having the courage to go on despite facing the darkest of times. If you’re Canadian reading this, you’ll get it. If you’re American, read on and Google later!
When I read the lyrics of Courage, it makes me think that to navigate obscure, incomprehensible actions, we must face them full-on with our values, a value like Courage. But the question is how? What is the associated behaviour of courage? if I were to take a picture of courage what would it look like?
At the onset of launching Better Your Best, I taught casually at BCIT. I taught entrepreneurs and new Canadians the importance of knowing your values to navigate your direction by staying true to your authentic self. Values act as the North Star and the red thread in successful organizations. Values-based leaders root all of their planning, decision-making, operations, and analysis in their values. When values are honoured and employees are engaged, customers notice and results flow.
The start of 2025 has been a challenge for many. Uncertainty is stalling development and growth. When things feel hard and beyond our control, it’s important to focus on what we can control. We can control ourselves, our mindset, our culture, and our priorities.
A great exercise we recommend for organizations, when things are feeling flat or tricky, is to take inventory of their values.
- What values are we truly honouring at the moment?
- What values are creating positive energy and contributing to results?
- What values are being compromised right now?
- What’s getting in the way of values being truly lived?
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What does it look like when our values are being honoured day to day…describe it like you would to a new employee.
So this is an invitation to you and your teams to review your personal and corporate values. For me, this looks like our team asking “What does it look like to live in integrity right now? What value do we want to embody when we show up for our clients? How might we double down on this? Where might I not be honest with myself for the sake of ease over courage?” Notice how reflection on a few simple values can completely shift your thinking.
We can fight dark with light by living and honouring our values. What matters most is not always the outcomes, the results, or the profits, but the impact, the relationships, and your process. What matters is how you show up in the good times and the hard times. What matters is how you leave people feeling after an interaction with you. What matters is celebrating your wins big and small.
The best results emerge when values are honoured.
At the end of my class at BCIT, I always shared the story of Terry Fox, a Canadian who epitomizes all of our true Canadian values - compassion, selflessness, perseverance, hope, and hard work.
The Terry Fox Foundation has released an amazing video in collaboration with Tragically Hip that brought me to tears and inspired this blog. It’s a reminder that the Marathon of Hope is up to all of us to continue. But also I see it as a reminder from two true Canadian heroes that through life’s hardest moments, let your values shine bright.
Coaches Corner is going podcast-style!
Watch your inbox in the next few weeks as we release a conversation between Carolyn and Coach Molly. On the recording, we'll be discussing Strategies for Leaders and their Businesses to play the long game through times of uncertainty.
Help us choose a name for the podcast! Cast your vote by responding to this newsletter with a 1, 2, or 3!
1. Better Your Leadership 2. Beyond Your Best 3. The Performance Edge
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