The value of values

(Not the Rich Hickey talk, which is excellent, and can be found here.)

I saw this next bit on Seneca Systems’ recruitment site:

Why Have Values?

Out of timber so crooked as that from which man is made, nothing entirely straight can be built. — Immanuel Kant

We recognize that it is more difficult to adhere to values than to simply not have them at all. We also understand that values are aspirational and, as Kant speaks to above, we are inherently flawed creatures [emphasis mine].

I call bullshit! We are not “inherently flawed creatures”. We are beautiful beyond measure. Since we’re dueling with quotes, let me riposté with this one:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. – Marianne Williamson Author, Lecturer

So why have values then?

I actually rather like the values that Seneca Systems chose:

  • Empathy
  • Transparency
  • Right over Easy
  • Don’t always be Right
  • Optimize for People

Values provide shared higher aspirations. We say what we believe in so we can all acknowledge that in each other. Even obvious things have to be communicated clearly.