The Principles That Sustained Me When All Else Failed...
- Rousse Lavalle
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
This weekend, while looking through old notebooks, I found a list I wrote almost ten years ago. These were the principles I promised never to compromise, no matter where my career took me. Rereading them, I felt a mixture of pride and humility: I had kept some promises, while others I had forgotten along the way.
Navigating without a map in turbulent waters
Today's professional world reminds me of sailing in an ocean where the climate is constantly changing. Technologies we once mastered become obsolete, business models transform, and expectations evolve at a dizzying pace.
In this context, I've discovered that strategies and tactics have an expiration date, but principles endure. They're my compass when there are no visible stars to guide me.
The principle that saved me
I remember a critical moment when I was leading an important project. We were facing impossible deadlines and pressure from all sides. The temptation to cut ethical corners was real, especially when no one would have noticed.
What kept me going wasn't the fear of being discovered, but a fundamental principle I had written years earlier: transparency. I decided to openly communicate the challenges we faced, taking responsibility for the delays rather than hiding them with compromised solutions.
That decision, though initially difficult, built a trust that no on-time delivery could have achieved.
When my actions betrayed my words
I have also failed to live up to my principles. During a period of intense professional growth, while professing to value human dignity, I treated people as resources to achieve goals.
A courageous colleague confronted me with this inconsistency. This difficult conversation forced me to recognize that the challenge wasn't my principles, but my ability to maintain them under pressure.
The balance between firmness and flexibility
Over time, I've learned that leading from principles doesn't mean being inflexible. The principle of subsidiarity has taught me to delegate decisions to the level closest to where they will be implemented, empowering others and respecting their autonomy.
This has transformed my leadership style, allowing me to adapt the methods without compromising the essence. Methods change, principles remain.
A question to reflect on
What are the non-negotiable principles that guide your decisions when faced with complex dilemmas? I'm not talking about abstract values that sound good in a corporate presentation, but rather deeply held convictions that you're willing to defend even at personal or professional cost.
Because in the end, we won't be remembered for the strategies we implemented or the quarterly results we achieved, but for the integrity with which we navigated the turbulent waters of global change.
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This blog is complemented by the microlearning program "Leading from Principles," which I developed as part of my commitment to promoting ethical and sustainable leadership.
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