Empathy and Compassion are the foundation for policies that work for all, harmony, and a world in which everyone thrives.
Dr. Mandeep Rai
Author
“ The Value Compass”
Broadcast Journalist
Keynote Speaker
Global Best Selling Author
London
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Can you tell me what inspired you to write The Values Compass and how did you decide on the 101 values representing each country?
Many aspects of life inspired me to write The Values Compass. I’ve collated wisdom from around the world, presenting it as values, as this is the software that makes all our decisions and guides our behaviour. We lead our entire lives via our values, so it is worth some thought and active choosing.
Huge amounts of research into current culture, history, study of geography, sociology and psychology went into the book. I carried out thousands of interviews across the entire spectrum of humanity – from country leaders to everyday citizens – then I personally spent time in each and every one of the countries.
Can you share an example of a value that transformed your perspective during your travels?
Let’s simply take the word perspective. Literally my perspective on everything was changed and my perspective on perspective was radically altered in Chile – where the Atacama desert – the stillness, dryness, lack of pollution and therefore seeming proximity to the stars is awe-inspiring and changes one’s perspective of our significance immediately. It hosts the world’s longest continental mountain range, so has more volcanoes and earthquakes than in any other country. Visiting Chile you have a very lived sense from the natural disasters about what does and does not matter. Then there is the perspective gleaned from its political upheaval and history; from Pinochet to Poverty/ inflation. With political instability, climate stress and economic uncertainty – it is perspective that has given a sense of calm in the chaos.
How do global values integrate individuals into their personal or professional lives for better decision-making?
A deep dive into values or to consider a spread of global values and how they are practiced throughout the world is helpful when we are actively choosing our own rather than simply reacting to live. It is values that shape us, our legacy, our organisation, our children, our future and the planet. When we become clear about our values – which The Values Compass helps you do – then decision making is easy.
According to you which values do you feel the world needs to embrace and why?
Empathy and compassion. Have we forgotten what it is like not to have your basic needs met? To be desperate? To be scared? To be out of our comfort zone? If we do not consider what it is like for another, there is little hope in our future together. Empathy and Compassion are the foundation for policies that work for all, harmony, and a world in which everyone thrives.
What challenges did you face while documenting values across 101 countries, and how did they influence the way you approached the book?
One faces challenges daily, and that is exactly what builds an understanding of all these values including; resilience, excellence, strength, love, kindness – all 101 of them.
How can leaders use values as a guiding principle to inspire and bring about meaningful change in their organizations?
We help organizations choose their top 5 values, and to prioritize them, and we find that how companies then hire, deliver, communicate and attract, drastically changes. If they focus on values as per our program, results increase by at least 25-50% – we have much evidence for this.
With your recognition as a 2021 Top Thinker to Watch, how do you see the role of values evolving in the current global landscape, especially in leadership and DEI?
More recently I have been voted and won Business Influencer of the year, two years in a row now, and that is more significant, because whether the words or acronym like DEI are in vogue or not, it does not matter. We help organizations evolve to their best selves within their communities, for their shareholders, employees, customers and beyond.
Your career spans journalism, banking, the UN, and media venture capital. How have these diverse experiences shaped your understanding of global values?
All of the above contributed to my understanding of values, yet one of the biggest influences was my time at London and Harvard Business School, thanks to professors like Nitin Nohira, Rakesh Khurana and Sumantra Gholshal. They made it clear how values affect our decision-making and the culture in all walks of life… be it a charity, a company or our community.
What would be your advice to someone looking to discover and align their own values with their life’s purpose?
What would be my advice? Read the book/ or listen to it, or this article, or visit www.thevaluescompass.com and if you are still interested, then please get in touch and we can help operationalize/ make a massive change to your world, and more.
