Ep. 42 - The Work of Alignment: Closing the Gap Between Values and Behavior with Jason Craige Harris

In this episode of CivilTalk, we speak with strategist, mediator, and leadership advisor Jason Craige Harris about the work of alignment: the ongoing process of bringing our values, behavior, leadership, and systems into greater integrity.

Jason Craige Harris is the CEO of Perception Strategies, a consulting firm that works with organizations, schools, nonprofits, and leadership teams to strengthen organizational culture, improve governance, navigate conflict, and build systems that function more effectively. Through mediation, leadership coaching, restorative practices, and strategic facilitation, Jason helps groups repair trust, clarify values, and create environments where people can work together more productively.

Jason also serves as Senior Advisor at the Perception Institute, a research consortium advancing fairness and belonging within social systems. His work draws on training in ethics, psychology, systems thinking, conflict mediation, and restorative justice, allowing him to help leaders address the relational and structural challenges that often prevent organizations from living up to their stated principles.

In this conversation, we explore the challenges leaders face when trying to align values with behavior inside organizations and communities. They discuss why conflict is often misunderstood, how trust can be rebuilt after breakdowns, and what it takes to create systems that support dignity, accountability, and collaboration.

Topics explored in this episode include:

  • Leadership and integrity in organizations

  • Conflict resolution and mediation

  • Organizational culture and governance

  • Restorative justice and relational repair

  • Alignment between values and behavior

  • Fairness, belonging, and bias in social systems

  • Building healthier communication within teams and institutions

This conversation offers practical insight for leaders, educators, nonprofit professionals, and anyone interested in improving how people work together and resolve conflict.

Learn more about Jason Craige Harris and his work:
Perception Strategies: www.perception-strategies.com
Perception Institute: https://perception.org
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About CivilTalk:
CivilTalk is more than a podcast. It’s a platform dedicated to improving the way we communicate in our relationships, workplaces, and institutions. Through conversations with leaders, thinkers, and practitioners, CivilTalk explores topics like emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, leadership, and culture. Alongside our podcast, CivilTalk comes equipped with Clarion, an AI tool designed to help individuals and organizations better understand the tone and dynamics of their conversations so they can build trust, improve communication, and create healthier systems. For more information about this please check the below link.

Learn more: www.civiltalk.com


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Ep. 41 - Becoming the Boss People Want to Work For with Sabina Nawaz