Why Convictions Matter More Than Preferences

Well, the new school year has started for most. Some schools have been in session for three weeks, others have more recently. Colleges are about to kick off.  So, thank you for another year of being an outstanding educational leader…

Most mornings when I arrive at Belhaven, Dr. David Hand is already there. As soon as I open the door to the School of Education floor, I can smell the coffee. I put my satchel down in my office, grab my coffee cup, fill it up in the break room, walk into Dr. Hand’s office, and say, “Mornin’, Chief.”

Our coffee cups are filled and another conversation is about to begin.

Over the past few years, Dr. Hand has become one of those people whose wisdom continually challenges and sharpens my thinking about leadership, faith, and the foundations upon which we build our lives. We rarely have an agenda. Sometimes we talk about leadership. Sometimes it is education, theology, culture, or whatever happens to be on our minds. Sometimes we simply wrestle with ideas. We do not always agree, but we always seek to understand where the other is coming from. Anyway, the coffee gets us started, but it is the conversations that stay with me.

Recently, our conversation centered on the difference between convictions and preferences, and it was a good one. I chased that rabbit for the better part of a week. As I reflected on our conversation, it led me to think about two other distinctions: values versus core values and commitment versus surrender.

During our conversation, I was reminded of something my mentor, the great G, Dr. Gerald Hasselman, often said:

“Values are what you believe in. Core values are where you draw the line in the sand.”

I have quoted that statement for years because I have never heard anyone explain the difference more clearly.

Most people have values, I hope so anyway… Most schools have values printed in a handbook or displayed on a website. Core values are different. They are the beliefs that are not negotiable. They define who we are and establish the boundaries we will not cross. They answer the question, “Where do I draw the line?”

The more I thought about it, the more I realized the same distinction exists between commitment and surrender.

A commitment is important. It represents a promise or a course of action. But a commitment still leaves room for choice. Circumstances change. Priorities shift. A commitment can be abandoned.

Surrender is different.

When someone surrenders, the decision has already been made. There is no backup plan because there is no intention of turning back. Surrender becomes part of who we are.

As I reflected on these ideas, it became clear that values and core values, commitment and surrender, preferences and convictions are all asking the same question.

What is your foundation?

Every leader builds on a foundation. Some build on experience. Some build on public opinion. Some build on what appears to produce the best results. Those foundations may work for a season, but they often shift with culture, circumstances, and changing priorities.

The Christian leader has a different foundation.

Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

That verse answers the question our conversation kept coming back to.

What is your foundation?

If Christ is truly our foundation, then our leadership cannot simply be based on what works. It must first be based on what is true. Our convictions are shaped by God’s Word, not by changing opinions or cultural pressure. Those convictions become our core values, and our core values shape the decisions we make every day.

As another school year begins, educational leaders will make hundreds of decisions. Most of them will never appear in a board meeting or become part of a strategic plan. They will happen in classrooms, hallways, faculty meetings, and private conversations. They will involve students, teachers, parents, and colleagues.

Those moments reveal far more than our leadership ability.

They reveal the foundation upon which we are building.

As you prepare for another school year, ask yourself a few simple questions.

• What are my values?

• More importantly, what are my core values?

• Where have I drawn the line in the sand?

• What have I merely committed to?

• To what have I surrendered?

The answers to those questions will shape the kind of leader you become.

Strong leadership is not built on preferences. It is built on convictions. Convictions become our core values, and our core values guide our decisions. When those convictions are grounded in Jesus Christ, we have a foundation that will remain firm long after the excitement of a new school year has faded.

As educational leaders, we spend much of our time helping students build a foundation for their future. We encourage teachers to build strong classrooms, develop meaningful relationships, and create environments where students can flourish. We work with parents to build trust and strengthen our communities.

Before we can build in others, however, we must first examine the foundation upon which we are building ourselves.

When Jesus Christ is our foundation, convictions replace preferences. Core values replace convenience. Surrender replaces simple commitment. Our leadership is no longer shaped by the culture around us but by the Christ within us. That is the kind of leadership our schools need as another year begins.

As you step into your role today, remember that you are not just an educator and leader but a shaper of the future. Your actions and decisions profoundly impact the lives of those you guide. Go, be the great educator and leader that our future needs.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2026 J Clay Norton

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