The Values Connection

One thing I found hard as a leader was managing potential conflict with people who were older than me. Even though I knew I was right to call something out, I would feel sick and hot and my throat would close up because I also knew the other person would be p!ssed off with me. And I didn't want to upset them. I wanted them to like me. Worrying about being liked as a leader is always pointless - because you simply can't please everyone all the time. And nor should you. When I remember some of my earlier days working in TV drama, my toes curl! When I was a 30 year-old producer, I had to ask an experienced, mature director to reshoot an expensive night scene. He was NOT happy. And boy, did he let me know. I didn't know what my core values were then - I'd never given it a second's thought - but in hindsight I was driven by them both in my decision to reshoot and the gentle way I asked the director to reshoot. Honesty, Purpose, Connection. They were all there. And you might ask, so what? What difference would it have made if I'd known? Well, it would have given me CLARITY. I would have understood why I felt so worried about confronting him, but also why it was so important to me that we got this scene right. Not from the perspective of ego, but from a deep understanding of the core values that drive me and that I have no choice over. I would have been able to make sense of the story unfolding, which would then have given me the CERTAINTY and CONFIDENCE to act without the stress and emotional drama. It was only when I spent time understanding the world of core values and how they showed up for me in everything, that I finally made peace with this simple truth: If we stay aligned with our core values in our decisions and actions, then we are always liked. By ourselves. That might sound like a bit of a trite mantra to throw out, but when you do the core values work properly it means you can be aligned with them in everything you do. Everyday. With everyone. Do you want more of that CLARITY, CERTAINTY and CONFIDENCE? If you're curious about discovering YOUR unique core values, I've got a special Christmas offer... It's the V.I.P. Taster Session for £99. I've designed a 60 minute taster of the unique process I take my clients through, so you can understand what knowing your core values can mean for you. I would love to introduce you to the power and simplicity of knowing what makes you tick and how you can use it to feel empowered! Check out what one of my clients thought too ⬇️ If you're curious please send me a DM 😊

For those who may be a tiny bit curious - here's a bit about me… Originally from Rainhill, near Liverpool, my background is in screenwriting for film and TV - first as an editor and producer, and then as a senior lecturer and course leader in Higher Education. Absolutely loved my career until I ended up in a toxic work environment that nearly finished me off! So, I retrained as a coach and started to help people struggling in their own jobs who might have toxic colleagues or bosses. Unfortunately, there are lots of them around... As part of my own recovery I studied core values and a million lightbulbs went off! Since then, I've created my own coaching framework using core values at its heart and formed The Values Connection. Whether working 1-1 or in a group workshop, we always start with uncovering YOUR 5 unique core values so you’re invested and emotionally connected from the outset. (This is often the piece of the jigsaw that’s missing in most core values work I’ve come across.) Depending on where you’re at, we can begin to connect the dots between your values, your team’s values and the business or organisation’s values. It then forms part of your strategy for recruitment, engagement and wellbeing. In our 1-1 sessions, we go on to look at how to put them to use every day, and connect them to relationships, business goals or simply all the sh1t that goes on at work! It's fun because I use my screenwriting background to dig really deep with it too... I do this mostly from my little hut in the garden (see below!) which my hubby built for me last year - mainly just to get me out of his way I think 😅 Also got two big kids (18 and 20) and two crazy trailhounds 🐾🐾 Would love to know what resonates with you! Have you experienced core values coaching before? 😀

There is no quick fix. The only way to create true wellbeing is doing something for the long term. We’ve all started with the best intentions – we’re going to practice mindfulness every day. We’re definitely going to stick with the yoga sessions this time. We’re going to drink the green juice and leave the Aldi wine special alone. We’re going to journal until the cows come home. And yet…. Somehow, we still feel stressed, anxious, angry, overwhelmed. We still hate our boss/our colleague/our partner*. *delete as appropriate. 8 hours of Values Into Practice™ coaching can change the way you feel, the way you understand yourself and the world around you. Not just for that day, or week…. But it’s something that stays in your heart, mind and gut. It’s simple to remember and it works because it’s based on you and the unique narrative of your life. Just like your unique set of fingerprints. You can move from angry and frustrated in your job, to calm and connected. You can move from anxious and fearful of the future, to empowered and certain. You can move from playing small and safe, to feeling brave and confident. Is all of that worth 8 hours of your time? Interested to find out more on how this can help you and your teams? Book a call and let’s end the year creating true wellbeing that lasts 😊 https://lnkd.in/d__vzq2r

David Brent: “Under your weaknesses, you’ve put eczema”. Big Keith: “That’s right.” Hmmm…. So how is appraisal season going for you? It’s a busy time for many, with managers and teams scrabbling around to find an extra hour or two in their day to complete the dreaded forms. Some classic memories of appraisals gone by for me: 🔺Higher Ed. appraisal 1 where I was told I shouldn’t worry about rates of pay because my salary was only “pin money” at home anyway. 😱 🔺Higher Ed. appraisal 2 where my boss agreed that my colleague was a bully, but ‘what could he do about it’? 🤷♂️ 🔺Oh yes, and 12 years working in TV script departments with NO appraisals at all. 😅 In McKinsey’s 2024 article on getting performance management right, these were the most important factors for employees when considering whether to leave a job or not: 1. Valued by the organisation 2. Valued by their manager 3. Sense of belonging 4. Work-life balance In that order, these are the essentials for leaders to consider when reviewing performance. And - you won’t be surprised to hear from me 😉 - that using your company values is a simple but powerful way to keep your staff engaged, productive and well. When leaders embrace values-based coaching, appraisals become a tool for empowerment and excellence—transforming that dreaded process nobody has time for, into one that inspires and motivates. 🙌 So, as appraisal season rolls on, ask yourself: Are you creating a process where every employee feels like they truly matter? If you’re ready to explore how Values Into Practice™ Coaching can help, book a call to find out more: https://lnkd.in/d__vzq2r #values #selfleadership

Tired of the drama at work? Well the bad news is that conflict is inevitable in any workplace. But as someone who spent years developing characters for TV dramas, I see conflict a little differently and it could be a fresh perspective for you. There is no story without conflict. It NEEDS to exist. It’s one of the first reasons a TV script would be thrown back at me - “no conflict, no-one cares” as one producer told me. 😅 In storytelling, conflict drives the plot because it’s necessary to create tension to keep the audience interested. Two characters with two different perspectives (or Values Narrative) will always be in conflict. And just as fictional characters act as mirrors to human psychology, so they’re a great way to help us understand the different types of conflict and how they show up. Conflict comes in three forms: 
1️⃣ Inner Conflict – What’s happening inside a person’s mind. It’s the self-doubt, frustration, or discomfort they feel when they’re challenged. 
2️⃣ Personal Conflict – The tension between colleagues, leaders, or teams. This often stems from clashing communication styles, differing priorities, or unmet expectations. Think of the classic “clash of personalities”. 
3️⃣ External Conflict – The challenges beyond anyone’s control, like economic shifts, organisational changes, or global crises. Think mergers or redundancy rounds. And so here’s the plot twist: if we accept conflict at work as normal - essential even - we can start to address it in a more human-centred way and support people to understand their specific triggers and the negative emotional responses that create all the drama. In my work with leaders and teams, I guide them to take the “drama” out of conflict by:
 ✨ Helping people understand how their core values drive their reactions to conflict.
 ✨ Equipping managers to bridge values-based differences in their teams.
 ✨ Focusing on what’s controllable in external challenges, while building resilience for what’s not. For HR Directors and COOs, this approach is game-changing. It doesn’t just resolve conflict—it builds self-awareness, trust, and stronger team cohesion. If you’d like to explore how to bring this approach into your organisation, send me a DM to book a call. Conflict doesn’t have to derail your team; it can be the spark that drives them forward. What’s the most common type of conflict you see at work? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your perspective! #leadership #conflict #values

I also help business leaders understand why they’re not reaching their goals - by helping them focus on their core values… Whether it’s struggling to recruit the right people... Or not being able to retain their best staff without knowing why... Or simply needing a fresh perspective and new ideas to keep their team happy and motivated... Our core values drive everything we do, so it’s crucial to know exactly what they are and how to use them effectively. Just one half-day workshop can set your business on the right path. ~ 🙋🏼♀️Hi, I’m Sarah Evans… and I help leaders transform the way their managers and teams work under pressure and with each other... through powerful 1-1 coaching and core values workshops.If you would like to find out more about my current offers, feel free to send me a DM ✉️ #values #culture #teams #leadership

I’ve got a question for you… What’s your ‘pea’?🫛🤔 You remember Hans Christian Anderson's story of The Princess and the Pea? No number of mattresses and feather eiderdowns could prevent that tiny pea from being felt by the young woman who was being tested. (If we put to one side the rather dodgy narrative of a woman having to ‘prove’ her worth in order to nab the prince 😬), this old story is a great reminder to focus on THE THING. If you have a niggle, an unpleasant emotion or a sense of mistrust about a person you have to deal with... That is a pea under the mattress. If you know that things aren't right, no matter how much you tell yourself "it'll be fine"... but you don't know what to do about it... That is a pea under the mattress. If you ‘appreciate’ the great salary and status your job brings, but you resent having no agency to deliver what you know is needed in your organisation... That is a pea under the mattress. Do you relate? Let me know! (The beautiful illustration is courtesy of Eve Porter 🙏) #story #inspiration #personaldevelopment

"Can highly recommend Sarah - she has helped me find my 5 core values and they have actually developed into something else which surprised me. She is such a great storyteller and she can turn your values into something compelling for you to really think about... I promise she makes it easy." Did you know that we all have 3-5 Core Values that drive everything we do? I absolutely LOVE helping clients to understand what their values really are (often very different to what they think 😉 ) and then putting those values to work for them. Once you have them, it's like sprinkling the salt that makes everything taste better: in your branding, hiring, leadership development, wellbeing and people management. If you're a Business Owner or Leader who needs some clarity on where to go next, get in touch via DM 😊 #values #personaldevelopment #inspiration

Leaders, here’s your Friday reminder: You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take time to recharge, align with your values, and lead with empathy. Your team needs you at your best! #friday #quotes #values

John Steinbeck said, "If a story is not about the hearer, he will not listen." This quote reminds us that people connect most with stories that resonate with their own experiences. When we tailor our stories to the listener’s world, we create real engagement and connection. A simple yet powerful thought to carry with you into the weekend! #weekendthoughts #integrity #quotes