When Something Feels Off

Recently, I was coaching an early-career professional who has accomplished a lot in her relatively short time in the workforce. 

She manages a huge program for a global company, which she enjoys. But other aspects of her role are unfulfilling, and she’s ready for a new challenge.

I was curious about her core values, those fundamental beliefs that determine who you are and guide your decision-making. When you truly understand yourself and what motivates you, it’s easy to seek and say yes to opportunities that fulfill you. 

I invited her to reflect upon hers and, to assist in this process, shared an exercise I developed to help people narrow down what matters most to them.

When we met a couple of weeks later, I was blown away by what she shared.

What you’re looking at is a visual representation of her values selection process.

She used a tool called Miro to sort digital Post-it notes representing a core values starter list from Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead. In her first pass, she got her list down to 15. Then, she grouped similar values together and did a face-off, narrowing it down to seven, and ultimately, to her top five: excellence, creativity, service, joy, and learning. 

To say that her energy shifted relative to our first session would be a massive understatement. Her body language radiated positivity (dare I say, joy?!). She expressed how affirming it felt to realize that her personal values closely aligned with those of her employer. This realization made her think twice about leaving her company. Instead, she began considering internal roles that could energize and stretch her, while staying at a place that literally values many of the same things.

I had never done a values clarification exercise until I did my coaching education program, and I often think about what a miss that was. How beneficial it would have been earlier in my career to be able to embrace my core values of trust, relationships, communication, responsibility, achievement, and trust. When I look back at times in my life where I’ve felt like something was off, now I can pinpoint that at least one of my values was being compromised.

On Sept. 22, I’m hosting Strengthen Your Core (Values), a free, interactive webinar to identify your core values and explore how they can bring greater clarity to your life and leadership.

Once you know what feels true on the inside, you will make better and more fulfilling choices in your life and your career. 

And when you’re figuring out what comes next, a clear sense of what matters most is a pretty powerful thing to have in your corner. 💪

Brain Food

Some of the hardest moments in leadership are the conversations we’d rather not have, whether it’s addressing a performance issue, navigating tension between colleagues or working through a disagreement about direction. Avoidance may make things easier in the moment, but unresolved issues rarely disappear. More often, they grow, affecting trust, team dynamics and ultimately the work itself. Read more in Chief Executive.

Real Talk

What actually happens in executive coaching? And do you have to be an executive to benefit? I recently had so much fun tackling these questions and more on Live from Chevy Chase. We talked about what coaching is and isn’t, who can benefit, and why you don’t have to wait until you’re struggling to invest in your growth. Coaching-curious? Check out the clip and let me know what you think!

In the Spotlight

Interview Prep

Have an interview or high-stakes conversation coming up? I offer prep sessions for professionals and teens who want to build confidence, strengthen their professional presence, and practice answering tough questions. Each hourlong session includes realistic practice, real-time feedback, recorded segments, and a customized checklist to help you feel prepared when it counts,

Five-Year-Old You Knew

Your values shouldn’t be aspirational or something you’re seeking to become. They reflect who you already are, down to your core.

I’ve often told the story about how achievement didn’t make my original core values list, which makes everyone who really knows me laugh. The goals may have been different (building a reputation as a Hungry, Hungry Hippos champion vs. becoming an excellent executive coach), but five-year-old Katie was every bit as competitive and achievement-oriented as the 45-year-old version. 🏆

Chances are, your values have been a through line throughout your life, whether you’ve recognized them or not. And if you’re still in the dark, don’t be afraid to turn on the light. It’s a lot easier to determine your best path when you can see where you’re going.