Growing up, I learned to adapt quickly to changes. My family tended to move to a new town every 4–5 years, and it was so normalized for me that even as an adult, I get itchy after a few years in one spot and start to look for what’s next.
As a little kid, I built habits that helped me cope. Instinctively - maybe even out of self-preservation - I learned to reframe a big change, like moving to a new city, into a grand adventure. This helped me navigate situations I had little control over, and it’s a skill I’ve carried into adulthood.
Change became something I looked forward to: a new adventure, an opportunity to meet different people, a learning experience. I was an avid reader as a kid and fancied myself a budding novelist a la Jo March, so every experience was something that might make a good story one day.
But even with that mindset, change wasn’t always easy. Whether it feels exciting or terrifying, every change comes with a transition period that can feel messy - even when you choose the change yourself.
People often say the only constant is change. I’d argue you are the constant in a life full of change. So how do you stay steady and resilient when everything around you shifts?
The answer lies in your foundation. To stay steady through change, you need a strong personal foundation - what I call your 5 Foundational Blocks - the core elements that keep you grounded no matter what shifts around you.
- Values: What matters most to you and guides your decisions
- Strengths: Your unique set of talents and abilities
- Motivators: What drives and energizes you
- Signals: The cues that help you recognize when you’re off balance
- Habits: The intentional practices that keep you grounded and growing
Building your foundation is an adventure of self-discovery. The more deeply you know yourself, the steadier you can remain when the world feels topsy-turvy. Over the next few weeks, we’ll explore each of these five building blocks. This week, we begin with Values.
Why values matter
Our values shape how we interpret the world. They show up in our reactions, both the joyful ones and the angry ones. To uncover yours, try this reflection:
- Think of a time when you were at your best. What was happening? Who was there? How did you feel?
- Now, think of a time when you were frustrated or angry. What happened? Why did it matter to you?
Notice the common threads. Often the same values show up on both sides: when they’re honored, you thrive; when they’re violated, you bristle. Write down the themes you notice and try them on: Do these feel like your “non-negotiables”?
When changes come our way, understanding what’s most important to us helps us navigate through making decisions, finding solutions that work for us, and creating the environment for our own success. As a leader, consistently leading from your values helps you stay steady for your team, providing them with a sense of calm and clear direction when organizational changes rock the boat.
So I’ll leave you with this reflection:
👉 How will you lead from your values this week?
Stay tuned for next week’s building block: Strengths.
🎒 In the meantime, the Leadership Backpack is still available, packed with tools to support your self-discovery journey (password: Backpack25). And if you’re navigating change right now and want personalized support, I’d love to talk - book a free strategy session here.