Good values need balance.

Even a good quality can become a problem when it stands alone. Honesty needs tact. Ambition needs perspective. I think about my values in pairs, with each one keeping the other in balance.

1. 01

   Integrity & empathy

   Trust comes from being honest and consistent, especially when it is difficult. But honesty can be harsh without an effort to understand the person on the other side of the conversation.

   I try to understand how people feel and where they are coming from, while still saying what needs to be said. Too much of either can get in the way. Together, they give people something they can rely on.

2. 02

   Professional passion & personal humility

   I care deeply about my work and want to do it well. That passion matters, but so do the relationships and values I carry through the work.

   I don’t assume my opinion is the most important, or that I am always right. There is usually someone in the room who knows more than I do about the problem in front of us. I try to stay open to that.

3. 03

   Initiative & teamwork

   When something needs doing, I want to get moving. But taking responsibility also means recognizing what other people bring to the work, and giving them room to do it.

   This balance has sometimes been harder for me than I would like to admit. I have learned that the people on my team can often do their individual work better than I can. Leadership means trusting that, too.

Those principles shape who I try to be. These operating guidelines shape what people can expect when we work together.