Why Values Matter: The Case of Rex Tillerson

In a live on-stage interview with Bob Schieffer of CBS News, former Secretary of State and once powerful chairman of ExxonMobil Rex Tillerson spoke frankly about his troubled tenure at the State Department and ultimate dismissal by President Trump. When asked by Schieffer why his relationship with President Trump went “off the rails,” Tillerson simply stated, “We are starkly different in our styles. We did not have a common value system.”

Rex Tillerson

Source: U.S. Department of State/Public Domain

Values matter, particularly when it comes to leading others. Far too many organizations pay lip service to values, but don’t really live them. One of the greatest sources of employee stress, and probably least talked about, is the misalignment of values. When your personal values clash with the values demonstrated by your employer, being true to yourself can be a struggle. The challenge is that we often don’t recognize this clash as the source of our stress because we spend so little time talking about our values in a meaningful way.

In his book, True North, former Medtronic CEO Bill George writes, “The values that form the basis for your true north are derived from your beliefs and convictions.” Orienting yourself toward your true north starts with knowing the values at the foundation of who you are. No one should tell you what your values should be, but you should have a strong command of them if you want them to serve effectively as your compass. Secretary Tillerson clearly has a strong command of his values and they apparently served him well when he needed a compass to navigate the uncharted waters of his rocky relationship with President Trump.

In my experience, most people, including seasoned managers, struggle to clearly articulate their values in a meaningful way. As a result, their decisions can be a bit erratic and may often appear inconsistent in the eyes of their teammates. It’s as if a magnet has been placed under their decision compass causing it to randomly spin. To combat this, it is important to take the time to define your own personal values and examine the extent to which they truly align with how you make your choices.

All of us have our own unique combination of beliefs and convictions that serve as the foundation of who we are and how we act. The challenge is taking the time to understand how these forces have influenced our values and how these values impact our decision making as leaders. If you want to truly know what your core driving values are, ask yourself the following questions:

• Am I willing to fight for it?
• Am I willing to sacrifice for it?
• Am I willing to pay for it?
• Am I willing to spend time on it?

A clear set of values is critical in developing the lens through which you view the world and the compass that will keep you aligned with that view. Keeping this lens in focus will aid you in making decisions that are true to who you are and what you believe. As the year comes to a close take the time to really articulate your values, so as to have that compass ready to guide you when you really need it.