Most leaders never question their values.
We celebrate them. Values such as Integrity. Empathy. Accountability. Health. Family.
They’re the principles that guide our decisions and shape how we show up at work and in life.
But during a recent leadership development session with the senior leadership team at the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, I asked a simple yet difficult question: What are potential barriers, drawbacks or blindspots of this value if not managed well?
And this group was on FIRE. Extraordinary connection. Massive value. High trust and psychological safety.
Doug (HR leader) and I had been speaking for some time, trying to find the right opportunity for me to serve this team. When we scheduled the session, it never really occurred to us that it would be happening on the Friday afternoon before a long weekend.
The entire team attended and made it all the way to the end before heading out for the long weekend. Bonus points for this group…Leading my example!
While most of us spend time thinking about why our values matter, very few of us spend time thinking about where they mighttrip us up.
As I continue to evolve my approach to leadership development, team engagement and coaching, I’ve realized something interesting.
We don’t see the world as it is. We see the world from our perspective that’s based on experiences, triggers, trauma, successes, wins, etc.
Everything we experience becomes a filter through which we interpret situations, people, and decisions.
Which means, life and perspective isn’t black or white, rather a whole lot of grey. I’m not talking 50 shades of grey. Don’t make this weird!
That’s why two people can hold the exact same value and behave very differently. Context matters
If not managed well, barriers, drawbacks or blind spots will show up for our values.
Values aren’t good or bad. Rather, they’re simply tools.
And like any tool, they can be incredibly useful when applied properly and problematic when taken too far.
This is where self-awareness becomes critical, but in a new way. Not because we need different values. But because we need to recognize when a strength starts becoming a liability.
Here are a few examples.
Integrity can become rigidity
Integrity is often considered one of the most important leadership values. But when pushed too far, integrity can become inflexibility.
You may:
Empathy can become avoidance
Empathy helps us build trust, strengthen relationships, and create psychological safety. But empathy without boundaries can become exhausting.
You may:
Health can become perfectionism
Health, wellness, and fitness are important values. But even healthy habits can create challenges when taken to an extreme.
You may:
One of the biggest breakthroughs in leadership development isn’t just discovering your values.
It’s understanding how those values show up under pressure: when you’re stressed, when you’re frustrated, when you’re tired, when you’re making difficult decisions.
This is often when the blind spots reveal themselves. Which is why emotional intelligence, leadership coaching, and personal development begin with awareness.
Take a moment and think about one of your core values.
Ask yourself:
What’s one value you’re proud of that occasionally becomes a blind spot?
Conquer your potential!
—
Parm works with aspiring and established leaders to optimize peak performance through leadership development, team building and coaching. When embraced, this changes behaviour, increases collaboration, improves engagement and builds stronger culture.
One of the ways Parm adds value is by sending out weekly leadership development and personal growth lessons. There will always be something for you to apply in your personal growth and professional development. And to say thank you and welcome, look out for two bonus gifts.
Reach out to Parm directly or subscribe to the Conquer Your Potential email list: https://conquerleadership.ca.
Receive our stories and events directly to your inbox, twice a month.
JustSayinCaledon.com collects only the information you voluntarily provide. This site uses only essential cookies. We do not use tracking or analytics cookies, and we do not use cookies to build profiles of your browsing behaviour.
If you subscribe to our newsletter, the name and email address you provide is stored and managed through our provider, Mailchimp. Your information is used only to send you the newsletter you signed up for. We do not sell, rent, or share your contact information with any other third parties. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link included in every email. You can review Mailchimp’s privacy practices at mailchimp.com/legal.
Some pages on this site include social media sharing buttons, such as Facebook or similar platforms. If you interact with these buttons, the relevant social media platform may set its own cookies or collect data according to their own privacy policies, which are outside our control.
JustSayinCaledon.com does not respond to or publish every submission, nor does it offer explanations as to why any individual submission was not selected for publication.
patti@justsayincaledon.com
Connect with us on social media using #AllAboutCaledon.
Copyright © 2026. Designed by Dash. Administrated by Foley Web Dev.