Rooted In Values

Many years ago, before I actually became a coach, I decided to work with a coach to figure out what I wanted from my next career. That experience would not only shape my professional trajectory but also inspire the name of my company.

The Power of Discovering Your Values

My coach had me complete a values exercise to identify my top five values and examine how they were reflected in my life. This experience was truly life-changing. At that time, and still to this day, my top three values are empathy, community, and collaboration. The other two have evolved somewhat as my life and priorities have changed.

These values—especially empathy—are core to who I am. I've realized over time that I find it difficult to form close connections with people who don't demonstrate empathy or who actually consider empathy to be a weakness.

Empathy in Action: A Leadership Lesson

I'd like to share how my commitment to empathy once transformed a professional relationship. I had accepted a position offered by a former colleague who became the manager of a Talent Development team. I was thrilled about working in this field after completing my master's degree in a related area, and excited to work with him again, this time as my manager.

A few months into this new role, I experienced significant personal challenges—going through a divorce and losing two of my dogs in a single week. Understandably, I was struggling. My heart was hurting, and my mind wasn't focused on work.

My new manager couldn't comprehend why these events were affecting me so deeply, even though I had shared my situation with him. He sent me an insensitive email expressing this sentiment. I nearly resigned, unable to imagine working for someone who lacked empathy.

Instead of making an impulsive decision, I gave myself time to process my emotions and approached him a few days later for an honest conversation. I explained that empathy is tremendously important to me and a quality I believe is essential in leadership. I reiterated the pain I was experiencing from such significant losses and expressed that if empathy wasn't something he valued as a leader, we might not be compatible professionally.

He thanked me for the feedback and committed to reflecting on our conversation, expressing his genuine desire to be an effective leader.

The outcome was remarkable—he took my feedback to heart, and I observed a significant transformation in how he approached his team. About a year later, he publicly acknowledged me for providing feedback that helped shape his leadership style.

Why "Rooted In Values"?

I've witnessed firsthand how values can profoundly change people and their interactions with the world once they become aware of what matters most to them. When we understand what roots us (our values), we can begin to grow and flourish in our lives, relationships, and work.

That's why I chose the name "Rooted in Values."

Like a sturdy tree that withstands storms because of its deep root system, I believe people and organizations thrive when they operate from a place of clearly defined values. My coaching approach helps clients discover and nurture these essential roots, creating the foundation for authentic growth and lasting success.

Whether you're an individual seeking direction or an organization looking to strengthen your culture, understanding your core values is the first vital step toward meaningful change. Let's discover what roots you, so you can truly flourish.