Become a Powerful Leader By Using Your Values!

Kia Ora All,

I hope all is well in your world! Today I wanted to share a little about my story of why I opted out of the regular 9-5 and started working for myself.

Don't worry this will be short and we'll get to the more "useful" content that you're used to in my newsletters! But my journey is relevant to today's topic!

I remember sitting in a cubicle in my first ever office job at the Ministry of Education and I looked around: I saw an office with no sunlight, people hunched over computers, our bosses looking miserable...

A fleeting (but stubborn thought as it turned out) crossed my mind:

"I can't believe this is going to be me for the rest of my life!"

It was dread.

Pure dread.

And although I stuffed it down, it was a thought that just never went away. And in the years that followed as I kept trying to make the 9-5 thing work for me (I'll get a better job, I'll work in my industry of passion, I'll help people etc), that thought morphed into:

"I've got to get the f*ck out of here!".

You see, one of my top values is freedom: Freedom to be creative, freedom to work in my own time, freedom to express myself.

And for me, working for myself became a way that I could be free.

I'm not advocating for you to leave your jobs (unless you want to!). What I am advocating for is values-based LIVING and LEADERSHIP.

When was the last time you reflected on what you really value? 

And are you LIVING your values? Not just in your day to day lives, but in your role as a leader?

Leaders influence. And if you want to positively influence people, you can start with you, yourself leading (and living) with your values at the fore.

Why is this important? Because as leaders, we get a unique opportunity to influence and shape the lives of the people around us. We can choose to do this consciously and positively, or just go about doing "leadership" as it has always been - More like managing people.

Leaders influence. And if you want to positively influence people, you can start with yourself - Leading (and living) with your values at the fore.

Knowing your values (collectively with your mission and vision) is part of what as what I refer to my clients as, your “North Star”. Your North Star, allows you to lead in a way that feels fulfilling, is highly influential and authentic.

You do this by asking:

• Does this action align with my values?
• Does this job align with my values?
• Is what I am saying and thinking aligning with my values?

Knowing your values (collectively with your mission and vision) is part of what as what I refer to my clients as, your “North Star”. Your North Star, allows you to lead in a way that feels fulfilling, is highly influential and authentic.

So, what are your values?

That’s not a rhetorical question:

• What are your values?
• What ideas or beliefs do you hold that steer your life?

I love Dr John Martini’s work on values (go here for a free value’s assessment: https://drdemartini.com/values/start). He says:

“Values arise from… that which you perceive as most missing {from your life} …Your fulfilment means the filling of your perceptually empty voids…{aka the living of your values}. 

The more important a value is - the higher it will be on your hierarchy of values and the more discipline and order you will have associated with it...

When you live according to your highest values you become inspired and awaken genius...Your present purpose or mission for life will reflect your present highest values.”

When you live according to your highest values you become inspired and awaken genius - Dr Demartini.

So if you start to lead according to your highest values, you will start to unlock the genius leader that you are!

But first you need to know what you value.

I would highly recommend taking Dr Demartini’s test, but here are some other questions for you to consider to discover your values:

• What do I LOVE to talk about?
• What do I think about often AND see coming into reality for me?
• On what do I spend my resources of time, money and energy on the most? List your top five, in each category.
• What are my non-negotiables in life?
• In what areas of my life, do I have routines and discipline around?
• What things do I do that leave me feeling energised and excited by?
• What do I always find time and energy for?

By answering these questions, you’re going to start to see themes that will tease out what you truly value. Then, by living in accordance with those top values, you’ll start to unlock your unique brand of “genius” Conscious Leadership!

You inspire them to get clear on what they value and to live a life that is led by their values, that then unlocks their genius. 

When you step into that kind of values-driven leadership, you start to set a standard for the people around you. You inspire them to get clear on what they value and to live a life that is led by their values, that then unlocks their genius.  You living and leading with your values, is a gift to everyone around you!

You living and leading with your values, is a gift to everyone around you!

Have a wonderful rest of your day and week and keep being awesome!

Arohanui,

Nik Chung.

Ps. Some of this newsletter was an extract from my upcoming book "Awakening The Conscious Leader \\ Volume 1: Self-Leadership"

coming out in 2024! Exciting! 

PPS. I love that you're a leader and I love that you want to become an even better one! If you want support in your growth, send me a message and let's discuss my 1:1 options.