Ep. 59 Values as a Compass in Business Leadership with Ken Black

My son’s part-time job as a boy was running into walls. The phrase “face the way you’re walking” constantly came out of my mouth. One because I was tired of dirty walls, but mostly for his success.

Ken shared the same idea for leadership success. Focus on where you want to go and so difficulties and disruptions don’t sway you from the goal. Choosing how you want to shoe up in the world or the lens through which you choose to see the world, Understand Seeing the world will revolutionize your leadership success, your organization’s culture, and, actually, every part of your life. Ken and I dive into how adopting a values-driven approach can transform not only how you lead, but how you show up everywhere.

Ken offers a refreshing take on values, describing them as dynamic lenses rather than fixed rules. These lenses shape how you see and interact with the world, helping you lead with clarity, consistency, and purpose. When you know your values—and live them out—challenges become opportunities, and leadership becomes a lot more joyful. When your team knows what you stand for and sees you live it daily, trust naturally follows.

Ken's stories and strategies provide actionable steps to ensure your values guide you, making your leadership more authentic and impactful. Whether you're rethinking your organizational culture or striving to become a more transparent leader, this conversation is a goldmine of insights to help you bring more joy to your culture at work.

Here’s what we talked about:

01:27 Why seeing the world differently matters in leadership

02:35 Practical steps for defining values as lenses in leadership

04:38 How following others' expectations can cause a midlife career crisis

08:53 Articulating a vision to attract and retain top performers

12:35 Self-reflection questions to integrate kindness into leadership

16:04 Effective accountability methods without the shame

18:41 Why showing love and trust at work boosts team performance

20:54 How to tie personal values to consistent professional behavior

Links/ Resources:

The Free 99 Step:

Values Identifier Guide will lead you to putting those values down on paper so you can align your actions to living as your best self which reduces decision fatigue and improves decision quality.

Ready to Dive In:

The Joyosity Leadership Retreat

Work on your leadership stories, mindset, values, and alignment with Jenn and other women who are leading. Reset. Reimagine. Revive. Nov. 7-9, 2024 Registration closes next week!