Chief Change Officer Podcast Summary
Episode: From Parking Cars to Parking Purpose: Robert MacPhee on Living a Values-Driven Life — Part Two
Host: Vince Chan
Guest: Robert MacPhee
Release Date: November 22, 2024
Introduction
In the latest episode of Chief Change Officer, host Vince Chan delves deep into the significance of living a values-driven life with esteemed guest Robert MacPhee. As the author of Living a Values-Based Life and creator of the leadership model Excellent Decisions, Robert brings a wealth of experience and insight into how personal and professional values shape our lives and careers.
The Importance of Values in Personal and Professional Life
Vince opens the conversation by sharing a personal anecdote about his brief tenure as a Chief People Officer, highlighting a clash of values that led to his departure. This sets the stage for a profound discussion on the critical role values play in both individual fulfillment and organizational success.
Vince Chan explains, “If you feel stuck in your current workplace is not necessarily your fault. Often it's just a misalignment of values. Don't bend your values to fit in. Instead, find a place in a tribe whose values resonate with yours. That's where true happiness and success lie.” (02:15)
Identifying and Implementing Values
Vince poses a crucial question to Robert: “After identifying our values, how do we practice them consistently in daily life?” This leads Robert to elaborate on the challenges of moving from awareness to action.
Robert MacPhee responds, “Sometimes people can get caught up in the words that really sound good and will make a good impression on someone else when people are first doing this work. We live in a world where we're trying to impress other people and make other people happy so much of the time.” (05:02)
Robert's Four A's Implementation Process
To bridge the gap between identifying and living by one's values, Robert introduces the Four A's framework:
- Assessment: Evaluate how well you are living according to your values.
- Area: Choose a specific area to focus on.
- Action: Identify and take concrete actions to align with your values.
- Accountability: Establish mechanisms to hold yourself accountable to these actions.
Robert MacPhee illustrates this with a personal example: “I have declared that my relationship with my children is number one on my list. How am I doing? How are my relationships with my children? How much time am I spending with them?” (07:45)
The Dynamic Nature of Values
Vince inquires about the evolution of values over time, to which Robert affirms their fluidity.
Robert MacPhee states, “Values change over time with new experiences and perspectives. When we're single, our values might be different than when we get married. When we're in school, our values might be different than when we start our career.” (09:50)
He adds, “I have a daily alarm that goes off reminding me to just take five minutes, take a breath, relax, go in, revisit those values, re-anchor into them, remember them.” (12:30)
Balancing Core Values with Situational Demands
The conversation shifts to how core values like honesty can adapt without losing their essence. Robert emphasizes the importance of context in applying values.
Robert MacPhee explains, “Sometimes it's not about abandoning my value, but recognizing when and how to apply it. This evolution speaks to how our brains collect data and adjust over time.” (14:20)
He further discusses borrowing values to meet situational demands without compromising core principles: “Being strong, disciplined, and focused does not conflict with being kind and caring and with being calm and peaceful and with being humble.” (16:00)
Practical Steps for Listeners
As the episode concludes, Robert offers actionable advice for listeners aspiring to live a values-driven life:
- Explore Your Priorities: Spend three to five minutes writing down what is important to you without judgment. (19:07)
- Define Your Ways of Being: Complete the sentence, “It is important to me to be...” multiple times to identify key personal attributes. (19:07)
- Implement the Four A's: Continuously assess, choose focus areas, take action, and hold yourself accountable to maintain alignment with your values.
Robert MacPhee wraps up with an inspiring note: “Implementation is where we really make a difference. Without that, it's really just an interesting conversation.” (22:20)
Conclusion
This episode of Chief Change Officer offers a comprehensive exploration of living a values-driven life, underscored by Robert MacPhee’s expertise and practical frameworks. Listeners are empowered to not only identify their core values but also to implement them sustainably in both their personal and professional lives, ensuring alignment and fulfillment in an ever-changing world.
Notable Quotes:
- “If you feel stuck in your current workplace is not necessarily your fault. Often it's just a misalignment of values.” — Vince Chan (02:15)
- “Sometimes it's really a big stretch for people to really be honest with themselves and say what really is, aside from what anyone else might think.” — Robert MacPhee (05:02)
- “Values change over time with new experiences and perspectives.” — Robert MacPhee (09:50)
- “Implementation is where we really make a difference. Without that, it's really just an interesting conversation.” — Robert MacPhee (22:20)
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