The Hidden Science of Human Values | A Conversation with Ruth Taylor

Shane Leaning sits down with Ruth Taylor from the Common Cause Foundation to explore the fascinating world of human values and what they mean for school leadership. Ruth shares insights from decades of social psychology research that challenges everything we think we know about motivation.

Key Topics Covered

The Schwartz Values Framework

• How 58 human values map onto our decision-making
• Why some values are complementary whilst others are antagonistic
• The difference between intrinsic and extrinsic values

The Values Perception Gap

• Why 74% of people prioritise intrinsic values like equality over extrinsic ones like wealth
• How we consistently misjudge what motivates others
• The self-fulfilling prophecy this creates in our organisations

Practical Applications for School Leaders

• Why competitions and prizes might backfire in the long term
• How to ask "what values am I wanting to nurture?" before designing initiatives
• Moving from outcome-focused to values-focused leadership
• Creating space for conversations about what really matters

Key Insights

• We all hold all 58 values but "dance" in different parts of the map at different times
• Cultural pressures often push us towards extrinsic values even when we'd naturally choose intrinsic ones
• You're always strengthening values through your leadership - the question is which ones
• Starting small and building habits around values-based thinking can create significant change
• Simply reflecting on our own values strengthens our intrinsic motivations

Useful Links

• Ruth Taylor's website: ruthtaylor.org
• Culture Soup newsletter: valuesnarrativesculture.substack.com
• Common Cause Foundation: commoncausefoundation.org
• Schwartz Values Framework map: Available on the Common Cause website

Episode Partner

The International Curriculum Association: Learn more

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

Shane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

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