On the issues of values and behavior, I found the following thread:
>At this point the question becomes for me whether it is accurate to call
>unexamined and mostly unconscious behavior a value at all. Perhaps it is
>just a pattern of behavior learned at a very deep level and largely
>unaffected by the rational, conscious mind in the course of day to day
>actions.
>To carry this thought further, then, what may be necessary in many cases
>is not so much that we debate or highlight the relative merit of this or
>that value in organizations, but, instead concentrate on helping people to
>attend to their own behavior, assess its impact and outcomes on themselves
>and others, and begin to "create values" for themselves--guidelines _and
>experiences_ of acting with integrity. Being able, in other words, to
>become conscious and consistent in aligning their actions with their words
>_and_ their words with their actions.
I wholeheartedly agree. What we may overlook in this values-behavior
debate is that behavior implies values, and not the stated values of the
individual. This is distressing to us as individuals, and begins the
rationalization process. "We can't do this because . . ." We fail to
perceive that the rationalizations are values. At some unconscious,
unaware level, we are valuing those things more that result in day-to-day
behaviors. The perception of the gap between our stated values and our
implied values can be startling.
It begins with owning up to the reality--that what I do, regardless of
whether I admire those values, results from a "valuing" decision at some
point. For instance, I may value comfort and the illusion of harmony more
than taking risks and surfacing conflict in my personal life. I don't
like this situation. But it's the truth.
The key here is I don't think we've made the connection between behaviors
and those other values, the ones we say we don't really value and yet do
day in and day out.
Taking the course suggested--aligning actions with values rather than
debating the relative importance of values-- will transform all of us.
Thanks for your contribution to our discussion.
--Alex J. Muro Director of Performance Improvement Anderson Leadership 1-800-979-8220 training@aleadership.com
Registered ICC User check out http://www.usefulware.com/~jfoltz
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>