Fulfilling any honor code is challenging. We are all fraught with human frailties, facing doubts, fears, and daily temptations to take the easy way out. Yet, amidst these pressures, there is immense reason for hope: countless leaders everywhere quietly do the right thing every single day, anchoring their teams and communities by leading firmly from their core values.
While compromise is always easy to rationalize, honorable leaders recognize the ongoing battle for their character—and they engage, fight, and win the prize of living and leading with honor.
Here’s Article 6 of the Honor Code:
“Live your values. Be faithful to your spiritual core, your conscience, and your deepest intuitions.”
Values Are Caught, Not Just Taught
Values, mindsets, and habits are caught more than taught. One of the greatest blessings from my years as a POW in Vietnam was living alongside courageous leaders who fought daily to remain faithful to their principles. They modeled honorable behavior, and their fidelity rubbed off on me—shaping my life then and now.
While POW camps removed standard modern temptations like money or alcohol, living by our values became our central focus. It was the only way to maintain purpose, dignity, and ultimate victory in the face of hardship.
Please watch the following coaching clip where I share a couple of stories and examples and then continue reading below.
Personal Values Drive Organizational Culture
Personal character inevitably shapes team and organizational culture. In captivity, our organizational mission was simple: remain faithful to our country, support our fellow POWs, and resist enemy exploitation. Summarized in a six-article Military Code of Conduct, this clarity bound us together and galvanized our resistance.
When lines are clear, the sacrifice required to uphold values yields deep unity, trust, and lasting impact.
Three Core Values Lessons for Leaders
The environment was unique, but I think there are some clear lessons we can extrapolate from that experience.
1. Clarify your values.
What do you really believe? Who are you? What do you stand for? Reflect on the foundation of your beliefs. Your faith, your family teaching, your professional ethics, your patriotism, your sense of community. What are your non-negotiables? The Honor Code would be a good place to start.
2. Commit and stand courageously.
Will you stand firm in the face of a busy schedule, unfair competition, the need to look good, the desire to meet legitimate desires for comfort and pleasure in ways that compromise your values? Recognize that your doubts and fears will take you out. Commit to suffer and sacrifice to remain faithful to your values.
3. Act in congruence with who you are.
Be true to yourself. It’s not easy; we are humans and not firm and fixed. We operate by ebbs and flows of our commitment. Fight the battle to keep your honor intact and when you fail, admit it and bounce back.
Sustaining Your Commitment
Leading with honor requires ongoing maintenance and intentional support:
- Seek Continuous Inspiration: Emotion drives action. Keep your core energized through spiritual reflection, family connections, and ongoing personal development—reading books, listening to podcasts that emphasize faith and values and leadership, and engaging in authentic dialogue.
- Stay Connected to Likeminded People: Surround yourself with individuals who elevate your character. Be discerning about who speaks into your life, and guard against negative influences that erode your standards.
“Living by your values is a demanding journey, but the outcome—unshakeable trust, clear purpose, and enduring integrity—is worth every struggle.” [Tweet This]
Maintain your focus, stay connected to people of character, and continue leading with honor. Please share your experiences in this area and do the favor of passing along a copy of the Honor Code to others.
LE [Tweet This Article]
Lead with Unshakable Integrity: Download the Honor Code
In the heat of daily pressure, it’s easy for a leader’s character to be tested by fear, pride, or the desire to “look good.” But true influence isn’t built on image—it’s built on trust. Derived from lessons of resilience and survival, the Honor Code provides seven foundational articles designed to anchor your leadership and unify your team.
Are you ready to set a higher standard for yourself and your organization? Join a community of leaders committed to character, courage, and commitment.
Download Your Free Copy of The Honor Code (this link downloads a PDF document)
SAVE 30% on The Honor Two-Book Combo Package!
Purchase these award-winning books that Lee mentioned in this month’s coaching in one package. Leading with Honor outlines the 14 leadership lessons learned in the POW camps of Vietnam. And, Engage with honor applies many of the original leadership lessons into a practical Courageous Accountability Model.
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