What does honour mean as a core value?
Honour as a core value means holding yourself to a personal code of conduct: keeping your word, behaving decently in victory and defeat, and doing right when it costs you.
Some things you simply don’t do. Honour is the standard behind that line: keeping your word when circumstances change, behaving well in defeat, treating opponents decently and doing the right thing when it costs you. If honour is a core value, your good name matters, and what you care about is deserving it. Falling below your own standard would bring a real sense of shame, whether or not anyone ever found out.
What does honour look like in practice?
- You keep an agreement made on a handshake as firmly as a signed contract.
- You shake the hand of the person who beat you and mean it.
- You take responsibility for your team’s failure in public.
- You won’t speak badly of a former employer or partner, even when they might deserve it.
- You repay debts, favours and kindnesses without being reminded.
When is honour overplayed?
Honour held too rigidly can become pride. You might refuse help, find it impossible to admit a mistake, or keep a commitment that no longer makes sense because breaking it would feel dishonourable. Some people carry old slights for years because their sense of honour was offended. The steadier form holds a high standard and still allows for being human. When a commitment starts to chafe, you could ask whether keeping it still does anyone good, or mainly protects an image of yourself that leaves no room for error.
Often confused with
Honour vs Integrity
Integrity is alignment between your principles and your actions. Honour adds dignity: a code of conduct you’re proud to live up to.
Honour vs Reputation
Reputation is how others see you. Honour is about deserving respect, whether or not anyone is watching.
Honour vs Ethics
Ethics is a considered moral code for every kind of decision. Honour is more personal: the standard of conduct you set for yourself and won’t fall below.
Honour vs Duty
Duty is doing what’s required of you. Honour is about how you conduct yourself, which often goes beyond what’s required.
Questions to sit with
- What would you never do, even if nobody could ever find out?
- Which commitment are you keeping out of honour that may no longer serve anyone?
- When did you last fall short of your own standard, and how did you put it right?
More values in Ethics
Doing right and treating people fairly.
About the author
Matt Rutherford is a Career and Leadership Coach. The Values Finder is the same exercise he uses with his coaching clients. He also writes Stuff that MattRs, a weekly newsletter with practical ideas to help you think clearer and work better.
Find your own
Is Honour one of your core values?
Choose from 155 values, narrow them down to the few that matter most, and get a personal report to keep. Free, and it takes about 15 minutes.
Find your core values