In this week’s issue, I want to break down why being a values-driven change agent is not enough to be effective.
Social justice advocates often hold values such as equity above all else in their fight for change.
However, valuing something does not necessarily translate into understanding the principles of how change actually happens.
In order to be effective, it is important to understand not only what you value, but also the underlying principles that drive those values.
So today, I’m going to describe:
- The difference between values and principles
- Mistakes people make when they use values without principles
- What I’d recommend people do to discover the principles underlying their values
Values versus principles
Values are the things you care about, such as equity or fairness. They are like maps in that they can help guide your behavior toward desired destinations or goals.
Principles, on the other hand, determine the outcomes of your actions. If values are like a map, principles are like the terrain. They are timeless and unchanging. You can choose your own map (values) and navigation (behavior), but the terrain itself (principles) dictate the consequences.
Let’s take the example of farming.
A farmer may value good food or organic methods, but that is not sufficient to be a good farmer.
In order to be a successful farmer, one must understand the principle of “you reap what you sow.” This principle, also known as the law of cause and effect, teaches us that our actions have consequences independent of our belief system.
No matter what you value, it is impossible to reap if you don’t sow.
As Stephen Covey, author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” stated:
“Principles are deep, fundamental truths that ultimately determine the consequences of our actions. Values, on the other hand, are our personal convictions about what is right and wrong.”
When we use values without understanding the principles that drive them, we can make mistakes such as focusing on short-term solutions instead of long-term change, or not considering the potential consequences of our actions.
Mistakes without principles
Here are three examples of mistakes that people make when they’re so invested in values that they forget the principles behind them.
Wealth
What happens when you value wealth but ignore the principles of becoming wealthy?
People can acquire big houses, fancy cars, and luxurious travel photos to post on Instagram. But without understanding the principle of thrift, which is about saving more than you spend, they may make poor financial decisions such as taking on huge amounts of credit card debt that ultimately lead to financial struggles.
Health
What happens when you value health but ignore the principles of being healthy?
People may value health and looking fit, but without understanding the principles of proper nutrition and exercise, they may turn to fad diets or quick-fix solutions such as diet pills, which are harmful to health in the long run.
Social Justice
What happens when you value social justice but ignore the principles of treating people fairly?
People may value an inclusive, pluralistic society, but without understanding the principles of mutual respect and open-mindedness, they may engage in disrespectful and divisive behavior, such as shouting down those who disagree with them.
Or discriminating in the same ways they protest against.
They harm the very cause they are fighting for.
In each of these examples, people hold values that align with their desired outcome. But, without understanding the principles that drive those values, they make decisions that ultimately lead to frustration and failure.
So, how do you discover the principles that underlie your values?
6 steps to discover principles behind your values
- Identify your values. Just as an example, let’s take valuing “diverse perspectives.”
- Research the principles that drive that value. In this case, research about the importance of diverse perspectives in decision making, problem-solving, and creating an inclusive society. What methods, actions and tools have been empirically shown to collect and use diverse perspectives?
- Look for patterns or common themes in the research. For example, you may find that “seeking to understand others before advocating for your own perspective” is crucial in facilitating the collection of diverse perspectives.
- Consider how this principle applies to your value. In this case, the principle of “seeking first to understand, before being understood” aligns with the value of “diverse perspectives” as it emphasizes the importance of listening and understanding different perspectives before making decisions or advocating for one’s own perspective.
- Reflect on your own actions and beliefs. Think about how this principle applies to your own behavior, and what you can do to put it into practice. Do your day-to-day actions in fact seek diverse perspectives? Do you talk about diverse perspectives but actually spend the majority of your time advocating for your own perspective?
- Test the principle in real-world situations. Try to put the principle into practice in different situations and observe the results. For example, focus intently on listening and understanding. Reflect on how it worked and if it’s something that aligns with your values and something you want to continue doing.
TLDR
Values guide behavior, but principles determine outcomes.
It’d be silly (and ineffective) to rely on values without the principles that drive them.
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See you again next week.
Whenever you’re ready, there are two ways I can help you:
→ I’m a strategic advisor for the toughest societal problems like poverty, crime and homelessness. People come to me when they want to stop spinning their wheels and get transformative, systems-level change.
→ I’m a coach for emerging and executive leaders in the social and public sectors who want to make progress on their biggest goals and challenges.
Let’s find out how I can help you become transformational.
