When Two Values Conflict

What do you do when two values seem to conflict? You choose a path that satisfies both.

I want the ensembles I direct to make great music. I want every student I teach to feel a sense of safety and belonging in our rehearsals.

Could I achieve faster or even better results if I sacrificed the second value for the first? Numerous movies, countless coaches, and personal experience all tell me I could. But I will never make that choice.

Does that mean that the second ideal is more important in my hierarchy? I actually don’t think so. I think that second value blocks certain paths to the goal of the first value; I have to choose other paths, and they might be harder. But it’s the only way to maintain those two leadership values.