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- Why One Word Core Values Fail Leaders and Organizations
Every leader wants a strong culture, but most get stuck with empty words.
Values like “Integrity” or “Excellence” sound good in a boardroom, but they rarely change how people act on the front line. Culture isn’t built by what’s written on the wall. It’s built by the behaviors leaders define, repeat, and protect every single day.
If you care about culture, today is for you.
I. Beliefs drive behaviors. Words alone do not.
What it means:
Beliefs drive behavior, and behavior becomes results. Think about it. If you see a 25 MPH speed limit sign in a school zone, your behavior immediately changes.
However, unless organizational beliefs are tied to behaviors, they stay abstract. Too many organizations stop short. They choose words, post them on a website, and hope people live them out.
II. Sounds crazy, but one-word core values are lazy.
What it means:
One-word values are easy to remember but hard to live out. Choosing one word, such as “Excellence” or “Family,” may seem simple, but it’s vague and subjective.
I will take it a step further, one word, core values are lazy. They feel like a board or CEO was told they needed some core values and wanted to make an attempt to show their employees that they tried.
III. Culture sticks when values are lived, not listed.
What it means:
Culture is proven in daily action. As I wrote in Building the Best, “Talented people are not attracted to empty words, but to leaders who consistently exercise them.”
That means rewarding the right behaviors and confronting the wrong ones quickly, even when they come from top performers. What gets celebrated gets repeated. What gets tolerated becomes your culture. If you fail to live the values themselves, no speech or poster will make up for it.
Use your gifts,
John Eades
CEO | LearnLoft | The Sales Infrastructure
The Optimistic Outlook (Newsletter)
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Why You Should Be a Good Person First (Podcast)
In this episode, John shares a preview of his new keynote and workshop, The Teamwork Advantage: Turning Groups into High-Performing Teams.
Discover the formula and behaviors that distinguish elite teams from average ones, and leave with practical strategies to foster alignment, enhance communication, and motivate action.
John also brings you the latest Optimistic Outlook story: English golfer Tommy Fleetwood’s long journey to his first PGA Tour win and the reminder he gave us all after “Be a good person first.”
For more details on The Teamwork Advantage keynote and workshop, visit johneades.com or LearnLoft.com.
Here Are Some Ways We Could Partner:
Customized Leadership Development Programs: Bring the Accelerate Leadership Program or Catalyst for Growth Program in-house for a customized experience for your team members. Programs include virtual or in-person instructor-led training, a Leadership Growth Plan, and group coaching to ensure real-world mastery.
1:1 Coaching: Work 1-on-1 with me or one of our certified coaches to achieve your goals, strengthen critical skills, and address your most pressing challenges. This 6-month program focuses on mindset and execution for tangible, lasting outcomes. Show me more
Speaking: We are now booking keynotes for the fall of 2025. Hit reply on this note, or check out some of our recent talks here.
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