Coaching with Values-Centered Leadership® and the Vector

One way of looking at our lives is to appreciate that excellence or high performance anywhere—in our personal or professional lives—is achieved when we do these three things exceptionally well:

  1. Attain great levels of competence (Mastery),
  2. Build deep and enduring relationships (Chemistry), and
  3. Serve others (Delivery).

Almost any activity in which we engage can be classified under one or more of these three headings. Try thinking of something that you do in your personal or professional life that is not comfortably contained within the one of these three descriptors: Mastery, Chemistry, or Delivery. These three are called the Primary Values.

 The definition of the Primary Values is:

  1. Mastery: Undertaking whatever you do to the highest standards of which you are capable
  2. Chemistry: Relating so well with others that they actively seek to associate themselves with you
  3. Delivery: Identifying the needs of others, and meeting them

We achieve these three Primary Values by practicing the Accelerators, which propel the Primary Values in this way:

  1. Mastery is achieved through Learning, defined as: Seeking and practicing knowledge and wisdom 
  2. Chemistry is achieved through Empathizing, defined as: Considering the thoughts, feelings, and perspectives of others, and
  3. Delivery is achieved through Listening, defined as: Hearing and understanding the communications of others

These last three are called “Accelerators,” because they accelerate the Primary Value with which they are linked. For example, to achieve greater Mastery, we need to commit to greater Learning. We call this combination Values-centered Leadership®.

Achieving Mastery, Chemistry, or Delivery cannot be achieved by wishful thinking alone. There are concrete actions and steps that we can each take that, when purposely applied, will lead to the enhancement and growth of these three Primary Values. To achieve greater Mastery, we must engage in new Learning. Similarly, if we wish to build greater Chemistry with people, we must first Empathize with them. And meeting the needs of others—Delivery—is best achieved by Listening for those needs.

These six little words are incredibly powerful because they propel all human progress, innovation, relationships, and achievements. There is nothing in the world that we cannot accomplish if we learn something new that leads to greater Mastery, empathize with others that leads to greater Chemistry or listen to the needs of others to achieve greater Delivery.