2.3.10.8. Case Application Exercise

This exercise is designed to move values from reflection into operational practice. The goal is not to imagine who you want to become, but to examine how values already influence your leadership behavior in real decision contexts.

Instructions

1. Step 1 — Identify Your Non-Negotiable Value
   Choose one value that is already active in your leadership — not one you wish you embodied, but one that consistently informs your instinctive sense of what is right, acceptable, or non-negotiable.
   
   Write the value as a single word or short phrase. Examples:
   • Integrity
   • Respect
   • Courage
   • Transparency
   • Accountability
   • Empathy
   
   Avoid explanation at this stage. The clarity will come later.
2. Step 2 — Recall a Relevant Situation
   Describe one recent situation — personal or professional — in which this value was challenged by:
   • Time pressure
   • Emotional discomfort
   • External expectations
   • Opportunity
   • Risk
   • Convenience
   Avoid framing the situation as success or failure. Your task is to observe — not justify.
   
   Document only:
   • What happened
   • How you responded
   • What influenced your response
3. Step 3 — Evaluate the Decision
   Using the situation you described, reflect using these three guiding questions:
   • Was the decision aligned with the value you identified?
   • If alignment was maintained, what internal resource made that possible?
     (Clarity, discipline, conviction, support, patience, boundaries, etc.)
   • If alignment was compromised, what force created the opening for compromise?
     (Fear, convenience, approval seeking, speed, uncertainty, avoidance, fatigue.)
   
   Answer with precision — not narrative.
4. Step 4 — Define One Reinforcing Behavior
   Identify one concrete behavior that would strengthen alignment with this value in future decision environments. This behavior must be:
   • Specific — clear enough to recognize.
   • Observable — visible to others.
   • Repeatable — actionable in real time.
   • Practical — something you can execute, not merely intend.
   For example, instead of writing “communicate openly”, write:
   
   “I will share relevant information within 24 hours, even if the update is incomplete or uncomfortable.”
5. Step 5 — Write Your Alignment Statement
   Write one sentence describing how you want this value to guide your decisions when pressure arises in the future. This statement should function as a personal standard — a reference point when clarity blurs or compromise appears reasonable.
   
   Examples:
   • “When pressure increases, I will choose transparency even if it slows progress.”
   • “I will protect respect in every interaction — especially when emotions are high.”
   • “I will not trade speed for integrity.”