What Do You Stand For?
March 3, 2025
As the new year begins, ‘getting clear’ posts are in the world. Blogs extolling the virtues around getting clear on who you are – what your leadership style is, your ways of collaborating, your values, etc. and then the importance of communicating these ways of being to others. Being clear with others as to how you are and how you hope to be.
Futurist Abby Falik put together her User’s Manual and also wrote about the assignment she worked from so others could do the same.
My colleague, Kyle Aldous, wrote a User’s Guide which he uses with his high school student advisory group. Both exercises are super interesting to check out and adapt for use in your own teams.
I have used these examples with colleagues who are stretching at their edges and one team lead in Southern CA said, “As we are onboarding new members, we need to do a User’s Guide to working with this team and within this department. What are OUR values, agreements, and ways of working effectively together?” Very cool. Certainly is a great prompt for team discussion, right?
In the last few months as things have markedly shifted here in the USA with a change of federal governmental leadership, the elimination of DEI work and so much more, a User’s Manual felt just a little too surface level at this time. Personally, I have grown more insistent about finding my voice and speaking up – standing up for what I value. I chose to write a personal bio and put it on my website so that those who learn about me, and hopefully I work with me, know who I am personally and professionally. Some would say this personal sharing will cost me work and lose me contracts. Others say it might be better for me to just put up a professional bio and keep things somewhat neutral.
Given that my personal and professional personas are very much integrated, to distance myself from myself doesn’t feel right to me or the work I do. I cannot focus on transactional interactions when the world needs transformation, courage, steadfastness, and love. So I am working on my credo with the questions from Argonaut School. It’s a draft – a work in progress. At this time in the world, we don’t have time for perfection, we have to insist on imperfection and move forward just the same. The stakes are too great. What do I want to stand for? What do I value? What can those with whom I work trust me to do? You might want to do the same and ask yourself some questions. The process has given me a sense of groundedness, equanimity, and a sense of wellbeing – all in the midst of uncertainty, fear, and instability.
Questions to ask yourself…
- Who do you want to be?
- Where do you want to direct your energy?
- How do you hope others will see you?
- What do you stand for?
These are some of the most powerful questions any of us get to answer in life. What are your answers? Join me.
Questions, comments, or suggestions? Feel free to email me at jennifer@jenniferabrams.com.
Cool Resources
There is a new online doctorate program, an EdD in Character Development, Social Emotional Learning, and Leadership, at University of Missouri-St. Louis beginning in fall 2025. Mindy Bier and Tom Hoerr will be leading and teaching in the program along with several other skilled practitioners. Please reach out to Mindy (bierm@umsl.edu) or Tom (trhoerr@newcityschool.org) if you have any questions.
Weave: The Social Fabric Project tackles the problem of broken social trust that has left Americans divided, lonely, and in social gridlock. Weave connects, supports, and invests in local leaders stepping up to weave a new, inclusive social fabric where they live. The project was founded by New York Times columnist and author David Brooks at the Aspen Institute. Check out Kathy Solberg’s blog about unweaving here.
NewStories recognizes today’s crises and systemic breakdowns and holds a vision for amplifying the patterns of interdependence that will give rise to a regenerative future. Through Re-Storying, NewStories walks alongside you as you reshape the way you see yourself, your values, relationships, and the challenges you face—working within your unique context to create positive change now and to shift the systems that impact your life.
