Values and Civility in Leadership
We are in a period of unprecedented chaos - mind numbing, dizzying news cycles of which we have never encountered. It is easy to be sucked into the crisis and chaos as we seek stable and consistent leadership. As practitioners of leadership development, we are observing how leadership values, emotional intelligence, and emotional regulation are showing up – or not, in some cases.
What are values and why are they important for leaders? Simply put, values are what matter to us. They are our guiding principles, our true north. They are full of data for us – not only what matters to us and how to guide us, but also as early warning signs when we are slipping out of our values or find ourselves upset. And values matter a whole heck of a lot if we are going to live brave, courageous, and authentic lives.
We’ve been thinking of brave, civil, values-based leadership with the recent passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG). Regardless of your political leanings, there is no doubt that Justice Ginsburg led her life and career in strong alignment with her values. She leaned on these when it was unpopular to do so, often swimming upstream against the tide. It was not showy, it was not arrogant, yet it was very clear what mattered to her. She demonstrated a quiet yet deep commitment to living and leading from values and integrity.
Even more so, we only have to look at Justice Ginsburg’s relationship with her fellow Justice, the late Antonin Scalia. Scalia and Ginsburg had fundamentally different ideologies, yet argued the idea, not the person. Both truly leaned into their values not only to argue their respective positions, but as a roadmap to treat each other after disagreement. They famously were great friends who enjoyed dinner parties and opera together. They are an outstanding example of respectful discourse, executed with the utmost respect and civility towards each other.
As we navigate a tumultuous time in our world, let us look at our values. Get clear on what matters to you, especially when these values are tested. Let them lead us from a place of integrity, civility, and authenticity.
