Articulate Values as Verbs

Values as nouns are dead. What value do noun-based values have if they can't be acted upon—or even better, held accountable for?

Verbs have action in them, it makes you do something as opposed to nouns that are more static in their nature. How can we expect people to take actions with values that are not actionable?

I love what Simon Sinek said in his book Start With Why: "For values or guiding principles to be truly effective they have to be verbs. It’s not ‘integrity,’ it’s ‘always do the right thing.’ It’s not ‘innovation,’ it’s ‘look at the problem from a different angle.’ Articulating our values as verbs gives us a clear idea … we have a clear idea of how to act in any situation."

When we start to phrase values as verbs, it will be easier for others to understand them and hold you accountable for them. Our values should be the guiding principles by which we abide to the best of our ability.