When Values Become Your Vision

Mark Sterns is founder of Passion Leaders, a collective of professionals bringing passion and leadership to business, educational and ministry enterprises. A recognized culture engineer, Mark also continues to serve in aviation with his values-based leadership. He has served as CEO of three jet training centers where 3,000 trainees have been hired by Southwest Airlines. Mark and his beautiful and talented Paula, a nurse, live in Texas and exhibit a life of service and dedication to others.

In every organization in which I have been a part, there have existed a set of values. I dare say that every organization anywhere has values. Whether formalized and prominently displayed or hidden and discreet, values are interlaced throughout the fabric of organizational tapestries.

Values in an enterprise are merely depictions of what is important, initially to the founders, and then to those that follow. In my most recent professional engagement, I was challenged to start a company to train leaders in aviation. As our first official act of business, my partner and I grappled with, then committed to a set of values. Unknown to us at the time, this was the smartest thing we could have ever done. Once you know your values, it makes your decisions easy. You just ask, “How does this fit in with our values?”

We committed to seven values – training, excellence, innovation, joy, relationships, serving, and character. Our last value was actually our most important, as we determined to value character over gifting. We trained at the highest pilot certification in the world – jet type ratings on an FAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate. Consequently, we trained many gifted aviators, including Blue Angels, Thunderbirds, and astronauts, helping them transition to the civilian world. As important was their gifting, we felt that character was of more value, and would last long after the pilot wings were secured in a shadow box or treasure chest.

I learned that values compete. We had the best Boeing 737 instructor in the industry. Do you know how I knew that? He told me. He indeed was very knowledgeable about the airplane and possessed our values of training and excellence. However, he was lacking in nearly all others, especially in character.

One of the most interesting staff meetings we had was when I posed the question, “Which is more important, character or gifting in the captain that pilots your airplane?” The first response was immediate. “Gifting,” one said, “because when things go wrong, I want the best pilot flying.” Many agreed and the discussion continued until Don, an older gentleman who usually remained quiet, spoke these words: “Character is more important, because I know the captain will be prepared and that he would not have compromised in his training or preparation.” Bam. In one moment, this value became core to our organization.

They say that in an organization, culture trumps vision. Companies, hospitals, offices develop a culture of how things are done. No matter how strong the vision statement, culture creeps in and takes over. The antidote to that is passion. Passion develops when values intersect. Do you not better value a new acquaintance when you discover similar interests? There is true potential for dynamic passion when the values of individuals intersect with each other and the organization.

Our mission was to train leaders in aviation. We were certifying pilots as type rated on particular jet aircraft, but what we were really doing was training leaders. Unbeknownst to him, I happened upon one of our trainees cleaning the men’s room and picking up some trash. Adi Roy was paired up in the class and the simulators with a furloughed check airman from one of the world’s most prestigious airlines. Like our previous instructor, he was a gifted aviator. Both were hired to fly a private jet for a wealthy family, but guess which one made the cut. Adi Roy led by being a servant first.

Here is a challenge for you. Review your own values, that is, what is important to you. Then find the place where your values intersect with your co-workers and your organization. Then you will find, like us, that your values actually become your vision and powerful, purposeful passion is released.

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