Ep. 102 Woody Woodward, Chief Coaching Officer, BetterUp
/In this episode of The Value of Values, I sit down with Dr. Woody Woodward, Chief Coaching Officer at BetterUp, for a thoughtful conversation about values, leadership, coaching, and what it means to lead in an increasingly complex world.
We explore why values matter most when circumstances are uncertain, how leaders can identify the values they truly live—not just the ones they aspire to—and why clarity around those values creates trust, consistency, and confidence in those we lead.
Woody shares the values discovery process he has used with leaders, executives, and coaching students for years, along with insights from his own journey. We discuss relationships, achievement, playfulness, craftsmanship, coaching, and the importance of continually examining ourselves as leaders and human beings.
We also explore the impact of AI on the workplace, the growing need for reflection in a reactive world, and why the future of leadership may depend as much on self-awareness and values as it does on strategy and technology.
Some conversations leave you with answers. This one leaves you with better questions.
In this episode, we explore:
• Why values become critical when leaders face uncertainty
• How to distinguish aspirational values from lived values
• The four-part litmus test for identifying what you truly value
• Why values create trust and predictability in leadership
• How values evolve through life experiences and major transitions
• The concept of values congruence and its impact on work and life
• Why relationships remain foundational to leadership effectiveness
• The role of playfulness, humor, and balance in leadership
• The growing importance of reflection in a fast-moving AI-driven world
• The science and craft of coaching
• Lessons from Stoicism, self-awareness, and examining our assumptions
• Why improving the human experience of work remains an enduring leadership challenge