Episode 25

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Published on:

1st Sep 2025

25. When Core Values Become Wall Art

Episode 25: When Values Become Wall Art

Episode 4 of 4 in the series, "Built to Last or Poised for Collapse?"

What happens when your values stop being lived and start being laminated?

This episode closes our Built to Last or Poised for Collapse? series with one of the most dangerous shifts in leadership: when values become decoration instead of direction. On paper, nothing changes. But in practice, your people know the difference. And once they see that values don’t cost anything, they stop believing they mean anything.

If you’re a founder or leader responsible for culture and execution, this conversation will help you recognize where compromise creeps in, and what it costs when your values become wallpaper.

Takeaways

  • The silent slide from conviction to convenience
  • Why compromise doesn’t break culture overnight — but one decision at a time
  • How values lose power when leaders won’t name the cost
  • Practical examples of making values real in decisions, budgets, and accountability
  • The step most leaders miss: saying it out loud before the moment of choice

Reflection Questions

  • Which of your values cost you something this month?
  • If the answer is none, what decision can you make this week to prove they still matter?

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About the Podcast

Leadership in 5
Lead better in 5 minutes. Tactical insights for founders who want clarity, momentum, and a business that doesn’t break them.
Execution without excuses. Five minutes. One insight. No wasted words.

Leadership In 5 is the podcast for founders and executives who are done with vague advice and tired of hearing “just communicate better” like it’s a strategy.

I’m James Mayhew. I’ve served as Chief Culture Officer, coached hundreds of leaders, and made the thousand-plus execution mistakes so you don’t have to. I work with high-growth companies that are scaling fast — but who still want to lead with values, not ego.

Each episode delivers one sharp insight you can act on. You’ll hear practical guidance built on clarity, not charisma. No theory. No fluff. Just real leadership tools that work in real companies with real people.

This show exists to help you stop over-functioning, stop repeating yourself, and stop holding it all together just to keep the wheels turning. You deserve a business that works without breaking you.

The show is grounded in The IDP Way, a leadership system built on Integrity, Dignity, and Prosperity. If those words resonate, you’ll feel at home here. And if they challenge you? Even better. Growth starts with honesty.

Want a free companion to the show?
Download "99+ Questions That Create Clarity" at NextQuestionGuide.com
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Thanks for listening... and for leading.

About your host

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James Mayhew

James R. Mayhew is a leadership coach and strategic advisor to founders and executives building fast-growth, values-driven companies. He created the IDP Way, a leadership system grounded in integrity, dignity, and prosperity. James helps leaders align people, purpose, and performance so their business can scale with clarity, not chaos.

He’s served as Chief Culture Officer, coached hundreds of leaders, and built execution systems that actually work.