What are principles?
There are two kinds of principles:
Assumptions of central importance.
Comprehensive and fundamental rules.
In either case, principles capture broad and enduring guidelines for how we go about our work and life.
This definition is based on Army Doctrine Publications (ADP) 1-01, which states: "True fundamental principles should be time tested and relatively long lasting."
So while you have some choice over what principles to follow, you're generally not going to be the first person to have imagined those principles.
Here are a few example principles to consider:
Don't be quiet when something wrong is happening.
Never long for the good old days. (They weren't that great.)
Try new things, even if they're uncomfortable.
Each of us can have our own list of principles like this.
We can choose to add to them or adjust them over time, especially when we're first getting started.
Nice and clear "do this, don't do that" phrasing can be helpful. For instance:
"Always ."
"Never ."
What makes principles useful as a form of guidance is that you can usually tell whether or not you've followed them — that is whether you've been “principled."
It can feel vulnerable to open yourself up to accountability this way, to yourself and to others.
However, the benefits usually outweigh the risks. You become predictable, in a way that is helpful to others. They learn what to expect in your behavior.
Being principled is foundational to trust and so much more.
