Willing Phillips on the left, with Clarence Serfoss, Boyd Everett and Del Langbauer. A team of modestly fit young men at the top of Mount McKinley (now Denali) after an epic climb during a 100 year storm with winds gusting to 141 mph. This team survived while eight others on the mountain perished. Our survival in part was due to the values and principles listed on this website guided decision-making and behavior. Values and principles make superior teams of average players
Working Values
My expectation is that all of my clients in The CEO Counselor strive to uphold these values in our interactions.
Honesty and transparency are the foundation of all successful communication, problem solving and improvement efforts. We are rarely 100% honest out of the gate. The goal is to strive towards increasing transparency and honesty.
Mutual Respect is the acceptance of another persons words and behaviors. This doesn’t mean that you agree with them. It does mean that you do not judge, criticize, blame, discount or make fun of another person’s ideas or behavior. Without this acceptance it is very difficult to have a productive conversation. A friend of mine was training horses for some time in East Africa. When she criticized a local person for doing something wrong, he responded,” in my language there is no wrong there are just many answers.”
Humility is one of the most difficult qualities, particularly for those in leadership positions as head of a corporation or a family. Being humble acknowledges that you are not perfect and that you are not in control of most things and people outside of yourself. The best we can do is nudge or influence them. Arrogance is on the other end of the spectrum from humility will undermine your ability to influence others in a lasting manner. Nothing in us changes without first acknowledging and accepting what is part of us now. A sign of humility is the willingness to try on new new ideas and new conceptions of yourself. Trying it on gives you a chance to see how well it fits.
Confidentiality lays the foundation for a safe space in which to have an honest conversation. It means that you never say or do anything outside of the conversation that would implicate anyone in the conversation. If you ever are concerned that confidentiality may be compromised, it is critical that that you put on the table so it can be addressed.
Values and Principles are vitally important for navigating unknown territory. They are like the north star and the compass to the explorer. In life each of us chooses between being an explorer and the traditionalist. Our values and principles help us be true to that path.