When Your Values Become Professionally Expensive
Ten years ago this August, a quarterback sat during the national anthem. A few days later, he knelt. A question I have spent most of my career, from that point in time forward, became impossible for me to ignore. What happens when living your stated values threatens your livelihood, your status, your professional identity, and your sense of belonging?
I want to be cautious because this conversation tends to collapse into polarizing sides quickly. People are pro or against Colin Kaepernick and his protest actions. Some see Colin Kaepernick's protest as a peaceful stand against racial injustice and police violence against members of the Black community, which is how he described it from its inception. Alternatively, some people believe the kneeling during the anthem is disrespectful to the flag, to service members, or to the United States of America. My interest is not in relitigating the protest or even my personal position. In this article,, I want to examine what it costs individuals to live their values, and the leadership lessons it offers.
The Price
Kaepernick last played in the NFL at 29. He became a free agent in 2017, and no team would sign him. He later filed a grievance alleging that owners colluded to keep him out of the league. Subsequently, his grievance was settled confidentially in 2019. As with most settlements, there were no findings or admissions of guilt by either party.
We cannot say with certainty why each team passed on signing Kaepernick. However, what we can say is that the career he spent most of his life building ended abruptly. The reasonable conclusion is that the end of his NFL career was tied to his protest and how he did it. Kaepernick’s new book and book tour made me revisit his story. I see at least four costs.
He lost career opportunities. He lost earning potential. He lost a great deal of control over his own reputation and identity. Before 2016, he was the quarterback who took the 49ers to a Super Bowl. After his protest, the public decided who he was: activist, patriot, troublemaker, civil rights figure, anti-American symbol, an agitator, which was dependent on who was doing the defining. Additionally, he paid a price for personal safety. In September 2016, while still on the roster of an NFL team, he told reporters he had received death threats.
The quiet but harmful language of "fit"
Once someone becomes associated with what is viewed as a controversial position, organizations often stop evaluating them solely on performance. The questions shift to whether that individual poses a risk and to risk elimination. The questions shift to how our board will react. How will our donors react? How will the public and our constituents react? How will this damage our reputation or brand? Are they a good fit?
I have spent more than 25 years in equity, inclusion, Civil Rights compliance, and leadership, and I have heard some version of those questions in emergency meetings or continuing meetings about employees. Sometimes those questions show up as questions about leadership, promotions, or about someone’s "tone" or "timing” especially when it is timed shortly after advocacy. The questions act as a barometer to decide who gets to stay and who must go.
I cannot claim that this shift in focus for institutions and organizations can explain every NFL decision about Kaepernick. But his experience became one of the most visible examples of how professional consequences can attach to conviction and fidelity to one’s values.
He did not protest and then fade away.
Kaepernick committed $1 million of his own money to organizations working in underserved communities, supporting more than 30 organizations in at least 15 cities. With his life partner, he built Know Your Rights Camp, which has now hosted free youth camps serving more than 5,000 young people and chaperones and distributed more than $2.69 million in grants. On August 14th of this year, the tenth anniversary of the protest, the organization announced another $1 million commitment to community groups through 2027. That longevity changes the story. Moreover, while his stance cost him the identity he had built, such as being an NFL quarterback, it also created a different identity, one tied to his values, activism, philanthropy, publishing, and partnerships.
What this asks of the rest of us
In my work on equity, inclusion, and social justice issues, and authentic inclusive leadership, stated values are easy to hold and express. However, the real test comes when they become professionally and personally expensive. Many of us will never face the type of national spotlight that Kaepernick faced. Yet, many of us will face a meeting, a policy decision, a leadership challenge, or a quiet moment of choosing whether to speak and act.
I will leave you with the following reflection questions. What are you willing to lose for what you say you believe in? If you are a leader in an organization or institution, are you building a culture where people must pay a price, or one where integrity and values are treated as assets and strengths?
I would like to hear how you think about this topic. Share your reflections below.
#livingyourvalues #OrganizationalCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #Integrity #InclusiveLeadership #AuthenticLeadership #leadingpossibilities
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