Core Values Essay - Final Revision
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Louis Koconis
Core Values Essay
Authentic, Empathetic, and Accountable
“Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do. These are the Air Force Core Values. Study them…understand them…follow them…encompass them…and encourage others to do the same.” This excerpt from the Air Force Doctrine outlines the Air Force core values that were assigned to me on April 3
rd
, 2012. Following suit with my brothers and sisters in arms, I’ve chased those core values in every aspect of my military career and have found success in doing so. These values are a basic blueprint for an honest and happy Air Force career. However, I believe my success is in part to my own personal core values that I developed long before raising my right hand for this country. Through commitment to authenticity, empathy, and accountability in my life, I have not only had a better relationship with myself, but also carved a path to success in my military career. These values enable me to foster a deeper understanding of the human experience which has led to success in various aspects of
my life.
My personal understanding of authenticity is being honest with oneself when it comes to the values and beliefs one has aligned oneself with. This doesn’t mean you these beliefs can’t change over time, however it’s important for to be true to what you believe; and not always taking the same viewpoint as the majority in whatever crowd you’re in. Early on I often found myself questioning the ‘why’ of things to ensure I was being true to myself. Whether it was a classmate or teammate being mistreated, or an adult asking something of me I didn’t morally agree with, I knew I would not be true to myself if I acted without finding the why. In the military, the duty station often changes every few years give or take, and your reputation will follow you wherever you go. Being my authentic self has led to many long-lasting relationships that transcend typical timelines and geographic locations. The ability to have authenticity and foster connections with other authentic people will create trusting, lasting relationships that are key to future success.
Empathy almost feels like a lost art with all the division this country faces on nearly every political topic presented to us. This value is probably the one I hold closest to my heart as it was instilled
in me by my father at a very young age. Have the ability to truly see things from another person’s point of view and understand why they feel the things they feel. It almost goes without saying that this skill/value has led to tremendous connections in my personal life and makes people feel as though they can speak freely without judgement because I truly will understand where they are coming from. In my professional career, empathy has allowed me to notice my supervisors or commanders clearly struggling with a tough decision and be able to approach them with understanding as to why they are conflicted. Once they see that I do understand what makes certain decisions difficult, they are open to discussing the decision with me. This has led to me experiencing the influence of decisions I would have no business influencing without the value of empathy driving my initial conversations.
One of the quickest ways to know if you’re dealing with an honest, authentic person is taking note of how quickly they can admit wrongdoings even if they were honest mistake. Accountability goes an extremely long way in both professional and personal endeavors. Owning up to mistakes and being answerable to your responsibilities has separated me from others professionally on more than one occasion. It’s commonplace to hear that supervisors want you to own up to mistakes no matter how big or small, yet a large number of people still think they are better off omitting wrongdoing and hoping for the best, only to have it inevitably blow up in their face. Accountability is an underrated strength to have
Louis Koconis
Core Values Essay
Authentic, Empathetic, and Accountable
that demonstrates strength professionally and vulnerability and accessibility personally, allowing for deeper connections with the people around you. In summation, the values of authenticity, empathy and accountability have not only guided me to general happiness in my personal life, but also paved a path to success in my military career as well. I’ve been able to foster a meaningful relationship with myself and connect with those I care about, or aspire to care about, furthering lasting connections. Along with the Air Force’s core values, these personal values have guided my leadership and enabled accomplishments that would have otherwise been out of reach. Reflecting on my journey, I’m eternally thankful to have placed meaning on many core
values, but authenticity, empathy and accountability are the real reason I am where I am today. They remind me to never be too quick to judge while still staying true to yourself, which will go far in this game of life.
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