"The reason we roll our eyes when people start talking about values is that everyone talks a big values game but very few people actually practice one." – Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
The Bridge from Words to Action
Step One: We Can't Live Into Values That We Can't Name. Yesterday, we took this foundational step from Dare to Lead by Brené Brown. Today, we move to Step Two: Taking Values from BS to Behavior.
Many people claim to have values, but few can articulate them in a way that shapes their daily actions. We admire leaders and individuals who embody integrity, courage, and authenticity—not because they say they value those things, but because they demonstrate them in their decisions, habits, and interactions. This is where most people fall short.
If your values remain abstract ideals rather than concrete behaviors, they serve little purpose beyond sounding good. The key to credibility and alignment in life and leadership is defining how each value manifests in your behavior. This means naming not only what you stand for but also identifying the three or four behaviors that prove it. Without this clarity, values remain theoretical, and your credibility suffers.
A Personal Shift: Defining My Values Through Behavior
For years, I believed in a set of values, but it wasn’t until I read Dare to Lead that I took the next crucial step—defining the behaviors that demonstrated those values in action. This exercise transformed my relationship with my values. Instead of vague guiding principles, they became a daily practice, a commitment reinforced through specific actions. Reflecting on these behaviors made my values tangible and deepened my accountability to live them authentically.
Your Daily Inner Quest
Living your values means translating them into observable behaviors.
Today, choose one of your core values and define the specific behaviors that support it. How do you demonstrate this value in real life? What actions would others observe that prove your commitment? Moving from words to behaviors strengthens your integrity and ensures you are not just talking about values—but living them.