Ep 105, Why Values Fail at Work and How to Fix Them

If your values don’t show up in your decisions, they’re just marketing.   Too many organizations have glossy posters with words like integrity and excellence — but when the team gathers, those values vanish. And when values are decorations instead of direction, trust erodes, frustration builds, and joy disappears.   In this episode of the Joyosity™ Podcast, Jenn unpacks the gap between values on the wall and values in action. You’ll learn why most leaders struggle to articulate their own values, how that disconnect sabotages culture, and what it takes to turn values into the everyday fuel for joy, trust, and clarity.  

Here’s What’s in the Episode

• 2:36 The disconnect between organizational values and daily behavior will devastate trust.
• 4:41 The data on why teams with clear values retain customers and employees.
• 7:50 Where your values actually come from (and why some may not be yours).
• 9:21 The difference between nice-sounding words and actionable values.
• 13:15 The real test of your values.

Key Takeaway

Values aren’t what you frame on the wall. They’re what you choose in the moment, or they’re not values at all.

About the Host: Jenn Whitmer

Jenn is an international keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and the founder of Joyosity™, helping leaders create positive, profitable cultures through connection, curiosity, and joy. With a background in communication, conflict resolution, and team dynamics, Jenn helps leaders and organizations navigate complex people challenges, reduce burnout, and build flourishing workplaces. Her insights have resonated with audiences worldwide, blending real-world leadership expertise, engaging storytelling, and a dash of humor to make the hard stuff easier. Whether on stage, in workshops, or with coaching clients, Jenn equips leaders with the tools they need to solve conflict, cultivate communication, and lead with purpose. Her upcoming book Joyosity hits shelves fall 2025, offering leaders a fresh approach to joy at work that builds real results.

Resources & Links:

Preorder Joyosity:

• Joyosity: How to Cultivate Intense Happiness in Work & Life (Even If Things Are What They Are) Joy isn’t fluff — it’s fierce strategy. This book gives leaders the tools to turn exhaustion into resilience and build cultures where work is a joy, people are whole, and organizations flourish.

Free 99:

• Get started with your "Values Identifier Guide." Put those values down on paper so you can align your actions to living as your best self which reduces decision fatigue and improves decision quality. Get your Values Identifier Guide now!

Ready to Make a Plan:

• Joyosity™ Jumpstart → Get crystal clear on what you want, what’s in the way, and how to move forward with traction.

Starting the Journey:

• Enneagram Navigator → Stop guessing your type. In this 1:1 session, get clarity on your motivations and blind spots.

Ready to Dive In:

• Joyosity™ Intensive → A one-day transformative experience to realign with your values and build a practical plan for joyful leadership.

A Party for More:

• Bring Jenn & the Joy to Speak → Bring the spark (not just the spark notes!) to your whole team with contagious joy, practical tools, and plenty of laughter.

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