When people say to me, ‘I can’t articulate my values’, I often ask them to think of times they’ve felt frustrated by the way someone has acted or behaved. Usually, in their reflections, they’ll find a value they hold strongly that has been violated in some way.​
​
A lot of my work is about bringing enabling cultures to life. I always say it’s the way we act and behave when no one is watching that lets me know how embedded those values are.
​
Last week, I was travelling on the tube and a lady sitting opposite me was eating a satsuma. When she left the train, I noticed she’d left her satsuma peel on the seat next to where she was sitting. Was I wrong to feel mildly irritated??

I started thinking…
​
💭 She’d brought it with her; why couldn’t she take the remains, too?
​
💭 Did she really think it was okay to leave her debris for someone else to clear up?​

💭 Someone would have to move it to sit down​
​
It made me realise how strongly I value people taking responsibility and having respect for themselves and others.

I can’t bear litter and have been known to challenge people sitting in their cars when I’m out walking if they roll down their window and throw their rubbish out onto the pavement. I’m a great believer that rubbish attracts rubbish. It encourages people to drop theirs, too, as they think, ‘Well, my little bit won’t make a difference’.​
​
But as I’ve been sitting here, I wonder if I’ve been a tad hard on this lady!

🤔 Would she have created a neat little ball of peel if she hadn’t meant to take it with her?

🤔 Did she suddenly realise she was at her stop and jump off, forgetting to pick it up?​
​
What do you think?

And which of my values do you think is coming into play now? 😉