A Reflection on Our Core Values
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has been recognized worldwide as a leader with remarkable determination and faith. His courage and sacrifice have made it possible for us to live in a more just and equitable society. Every year at this time, we celebrate the legacy of his accomplishments with a national holiday. This recognition is well deserved, and we should make time for reflection on the extraordinary bravery exhibited by Dr. King and emulated by countless other activists whose names have been lost to history.
Dr. King is commonly misquoted as saying "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent." This quote is actually a paraphrase of a passage from a speech given on March 8, 1965, the day after "Bloody Sunday." The day that civil rights protesters were attacked and beaten by police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The full context of the quote is...
"Deep down in our non-violent creed is the conviction there are some things so dear, some things so precious, some things so eternally true, that they're worth dying for. And if a man happens to be 36 years old, as I happen to be, some great truth stands before the door of his life — some great opportunity to stand up for that which is right. A man might be afraid his home will get bombed, or he's afraid that he will lose his job, or he's afraid that he will get shot, or beat down by state troopers, and he may go on and live until he's 80. He's just as dead at 36 as he would be at 80. The cessation of breathing in his life is merely the belated announcement of an earlier death of the spirit...
"A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true."
"So we're going to stand up amid horses. We're going to stand up right here in Alabama, amid the billy-clubs. We're going to stand up right here in Alabama amid police dogs, if they have them. We're going to stand up amid tear gas! We're going to stand up amid anything they can muster up, letting the world know that we are determined to be free!"
The context of the speech sheds light on the tremendous heroism exhibited by everyday people committed to changing our world for the better. They knowingly put their lives at risk in the face of overwhelming opposition. We should not take that lightly. Their fearlessness should motivate us all to stay true to our guiding principles regardless of the risk.
As a business, we are inspired by the bravery of these agents of change. Though our stakes appear much lower as we aren't facing physical danger, we still grapple with the fears at the heart of the challenge. To battle these fears, we adhere to our core values, which guide our actions with both clients and colleagues. This powerful set of beliefs shapes our culture, attracts the right talent, and creates satisfied clients. They also let the world know the true character of our organization.
Sticking to our values isn't always easy. An organization that follows a values-based approach does not do so without financial risk. We have turned away potential clients who wanted us to cut corners on their quality programs. We've also had to cut ties with high-performing consultants who weren't a cultural fit. Building core values, and committing to them, requires integrity and excellence in spite of the fears.
Like every other business, we feel the pressure to do what is necessary to attract and retain clients. We also acknowledge the realities of the business environment, but we truly believe that long-term success for ourselves and our clients will come from sticking to our guiding principles.
Our values embody the heart and soul of our organization and without them, we cease to be who we are. Our intention is to make them crystal clear in every interaction. We intend for our values to be a beacon to inspire and empower those with our shared convictions, as we continue to be inspired and empowered by those who came before us.
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