What you will get: A reminder of the importance of values
It all happened so fast!
There I was, stopped in a tailback on the M5 (large motorway in the UK if you don’t know) and then…
SMACK!
A 71 year old lady had failed to notice the traffic had stopped and
drove into the back of my car at speed.
My car?
Not healthy – serious damage at the back and front also smashed into the car in front of me.
Me?
Fine.
A little shocked.
A small cut on my head.
But nothing serious.
So now to the point of the story…
Which values do you live by?
And what’s more…
What are the REAL values your organisation lives by (as opposed to the stated values)
You see…
A couple of days after the crash, I started to get phone calls.
Calls from accident-claim companies pretending to be calling on behalf of the elderly ladies insurance company. (a lie)
People being very, very friendly and seeming to take a real interest in my health after the accident.
But when I told them I was fine and had no serious personal injury, they didn’t seem to like it.
Saying things like….
“Well sir, you don’t have to have called a doctor. Are you sure you have had no aches or pains anywhere? Maybe you took a painkiller?”
And…
“Well maybe you feel ok now, but often these things take time. I’ll give it a few days and call you back, as we don’t want you to miss out on the personal injury money that is rightfully yours.”
So basically…
These calls are from personal injury claim companies trying to get me to lie and make up an injury that I didn’t have in order to get me some money and to get themselves a percentage cut of that money (now you know why your car insurance premium is so high!)
And that got me thinking…
What kind of VALUES are these organisations living by?
Deceit?
Dishonesty?
Manipulation?
Certainly not values of integrity, honesty and truth – that’s for sure!
And as I happen to hold values of honesty and integrity, I found myself getting more and more outraged by their attempts to persuade me to lie.
You see…
Every single day, you and your organisation are faced with choices.
Do you spend the money on a family holiday or by yourself a new car instead?
Does your company buy out the smaller company and if so, how do you manage that acquisition?
Do you say yes or no to the bribe?
And here’s the deal…
Each choice and action you take will either agree with or challenge your values.
So my simple advice?
Know your values.
Stay true to your values.
Stand up for your values.
Choose a job that is aligned to your values.
Work for a company whose values you believe in.
Life is simpler ( and a whole lot happier) if you do.
I’m off to tell the next accident-claim company who calls me to go and stick their values where the sun don’t shine!
(in a polite and emotionally intelligent way of course)
How about you?
To your fulfillment.
www.stevenealeinternational.com
Steve Neale
“Europe’s Leading Expert on Personal and Professional Growth”
Psychologist, Executive Coach, EI Practitioner, Award Winning Trainer, International Author, Psychodynamic Therapist, Hypnotherapist, Mindfulness Instructor, International Speaker, Creator of the LPS, Creator of the Accredited Masters in High Performance Leadership
