11 Principles of Work
Being a coach for founders and CEOs requires a certain resilience. I rely on 11 principles that structure my approach to working with and supporting those who place their trust in me. They help me stay aligned and grounded—both as a coach and as a person.
Where does your need to clarify your values come from?
For me, values are essential: without them, there’s no direction, no consistency, no grounding.
Values were always omnipresent in my upbringing. My mother, a psychologist and French teacher, grew up in a suburb of Paris with her family of five, Hungarian immigrants. My father, from a peasant family in Auvergne, had a more privileged upbringing thanks to my grandfather’s social ascent. They both passed on to my brother and me essential values: hard work, humility, integrity, courage, creativity, freedom of thought, and, most importantly, love and respect for others, no matter their differences.
These values have shaped me and continue to guide me. I’ve naturally felt the need to always formalize my own values within a professional framework—whether in my journey as an entrepreneur or today in my coaching practice.
Why do you refer to principles of work rather than values?
In my professional context, I prefer the term “principles” because they turn my values into concrete daily actions, both individually and collaboratively. They define my expectations and my approach to working with and supporting the people I coach.
What are your principles as a coach?
I have 11 fundamental principles of work. Here they are:
1. Be authentic.
Stay aligned with who we truly are. No pretenses. Encourage others to do the same.
2. Work on resilience.
Know how to celebrate and savor victories. Know how to turn failures into opportunities and rebuild what needs rebuilding with calm and determination.
3. Allow yourself to dream.
Allow yourself to dream, to claim it, and to have the courage to pursue your ambitions. Don’t limit your desires. Dreams make up half of our reality.
4. Be pragmatic.
Be pragmatic and grounded in reality to achieve concrete results. Change comes from what we truly do, not from what we pretend to do.
5. Stay humble.
Keep your feet on the ground in success. Don’t lose them in failure. And always remember that we are small on this earth, and in any case, nothing without others.
6. Be as clear as possible.
What is well thought out can be expressed clearly. And what is expressed clearly doesn’t need to be harsh or soft to convey a message—only clear. It’s hard to achieve but essential for progress.
7. Practice genuine benevolence.
Welcome without judgment, even what is difficult, dark, or raw. Listen attentively, understand deeply, and then offer meaningful help.
8. Maintain your freedom of mind & thought.
Maintain your freedom of thought, without being swayed by the two falsehoods: flattery and criticism. Speak your truths with empathy, no matter how difficult, in order to move forward without losing yourself.
9. Know how to adapt.
Be flexible in the face of the unexpected, while staying grounded in your essentials. Continuously evolve, learn from each person and situation, and respond with as much wisdom as possible.
10. Respect all differences.
Recognize the value of every individual, fully recognize and honor each person, regardless of their title, role, age, gender, culture, abilities, or story.
11. Always be discreet and maintain confidentiality.
Be in the shadow of my clients. They are the ones who shine. Keep all my exchanges with them strictly confidential, unconditionally and timelessly.
