Core Values as Decision Rules and Moving From Org Chart to Accountability With FACe

Hi! Wanted to share a few gems from recent coaching sessions along with a personal note as we head into the Holidays.

CORE VALUES AS DECISION RULES

In a recent coaching session, we revisited core values — not as lofty ideals, but as practical rules for decision-making. Think of your core values as the 5–6 non-negotiable behaviors your team agrees to follow. If someone consistently operates by those rules, they're a fit — even if their personal beliefs differ from others on the team. This framing helps leadership teams avoid the trap of 'aspirational' values that sound good but don't guide action. It also creates clarity: values aren't just words on a wall — they're the standards for how decisions get made every day. Try this: Ask your team, 'What are the rules we all agree to follow when making decisions?' Then check: are they clear, lived, and useful?

FROM ORG CHART TO ACCOUNTABILITY

Many teams struggle with the Functional Accountability Chart (FACe) because they're wired to think in org charts — who reports to whom. FACe flips the lens: it's about who owns which outcomes. In recent sessions, I've helped clients bridge this gap by completing the FACe, then building a simple accountability chart in Strety. We listed functions, added expected outcomes, and visualized it. That clarity sparked a shift: instead of asking 'who goes where,' we asked, 'what roles do we need to deliver these outcomes?' Accountability came into focus, and the org chart started to serve the work — not the other way around.

PERSONAL UPDATE

Fall weather finally arrived here in Austin, TX a few weeks ago, and I've been enjoying mountain bike rides with friends, including one last weekend at Reimer's Ranch, a Travis County park with some epic single track.

If any of this resonates, feel free to reach out.