Values
Underneath every action, conversation, and strategic move lies something far more foundational than we often realize: values.
Your values are not abstract ideas or lofty ideals. They are the inner compass that shapes how you show up in meetings, under stress, and in quiet moments of decision-making. The more clearly you understand your values, the clearer you’ll lead, and the better you’ll understand yourself and those around you.
That’s why all my leadership training always starts with guidance to understand your values. My invitation is clear: Don’t live another day without knowing your core values. They are your north star and what keeps you authentic.
So what does it mean to be authentic? It means there is full coherence between what you feel, think, say, and practice. That’s it. Now you stand strong like a huge oak tree in the middle of a field. Twenty people, fifty, can lean on you, and you hardly notice. You have nothing to hide. What they see is what they get. They can rely on you to be about the same tomorrow as today. You are trustworthy.
What Are Values?
Values are your deep beliefs about what matters most. They represent what you see as right, important, meaningful, or worth pursuing in both work and in life. Remember, there is no actual distinction between work and personal life. It’s an analytical distinction we have made in terms of being able to talk about professional versus personal life. There is of course only one life!
Unlike goals, which change with context, values are more stable. They are not about what you want to achieve, but why you care in the first place. They influence everything from your communication style to how you deal with conflict and they’re often operating beneath the surface.
_____
Zen Life and the Art of Leadership
_____
Many leaders believe they understand their values, but when asked to list or articulate them clearly or explain how they inform daily decisions, the answers often become fuzzy. That’s a sign of disconnection and a missed opportunity for clarity.
Self-Awareness Starts with Values
You can’t lead others well if you don’t understand what drives you. That’s where values come in.
When you gain clarity on your values, you gain powerful insights into:
- Why do certain situations energize or frustrate you
- How you make decisions — especially under pressure
- The culture you unconsciously promote in your team
Self-awareness is often spoken about in leadership circles. But it begins not with personality tests or 360 feedback, it begins with values. When you know what matters most to you, you understand yourself in a deeper, more honest way.
From Personal Values to Organisational Alignment
Great leadership doesn’t stop at personal insight. It bridges into culture and team alignment.
When your values resonate with the values of your organization, there’s energy, purpose, and momentum. But when there’s a mismatch, when what you care about most is missing from the workplace then frustration builds. Over time, that disconnect can lead to disengagement, poor performance, and a quiet erosion of trust.
That’s why it’s essential for leaders not only to articulate their values but also to role model and reinforce shared values within the organization.
The Hidden Cost of Ignoring Values
It’s easy to focus on external results like revenue, productivity, and innovation. But without values guiding your leadership, you risk drifting. You may find yourself making decisions based on pressure, reactivity, or expectations, rather than grounded inner clarity.
_____
20 Quotes of Inspiring Wisdom about Leadership and Management
_____
And in moments of ambiguity or conflict, this becomes costly. Values are what help you navigate the grey areas, that is, the complex human challenges where there’s no obvious right answer.
When you lead without clear values, you default to habit. When you lead with values, you rise into awareness.
Twelve Core Values to Reflect On
While every person has a unique mix of values, research shows that there are recurring themes that matter deeply to most people across cultures and roles (Schwartz 1992).
The following are twelve value types often seen in leadership reflection work. However, please do not feel or try to make these your values if they are not it – they are only intended to act as examples as to what values may look like:
Self-direction – autonomy, creativity, freedom to think independently
Achievement – success, mastery, striving for excellence
Benevolence – kindness, care, contributing to others
Integrity – honesty, fairness, consistency between word and action
Power – influence, control, recognition
Security – stability, safety, predictability
Stimulation – variety, excitement, new experiences
Tradition – honoring heritage, values of the past
Conformity – respect for rules, norms, or social expectations
Universalism – social justice, equality, protecting nature or others
Ethical judgment – moral reasoning, doing what’s right even when hard
Transcendence – ultimate happiness, purpose, or spiritual wholeness
Take a moment to reflect. What speaks to you and what doesn’t? What other words better describe your core values?
Which values resonate most with how you live and with how you lead? Which ones challenge you? Which are missing in your current work life?
How to Start Exploring Your Values
One of the simplest ways to begin clarifying your values is this:
Think of three moments: one where you felt deeply fulfilled, one where you felt frustrated, and one where you felt proud. Then ask yourself:
What values were present — or violated — in those moments?
Write down any words or phrases that emerge. Patterns will begin to form.
You can also ask:
- What am I willing to take a stand for?
- What behaviors in others inspire me — or irritate me?
- What do I want to be remembered for?
As you reflect, you begin to form a clearer picture of your personal values system — the principles that matter most to you and how they play out in daily life.
_____
How Taking Ownership of your Life will make you a Better Leader and Manager
_____
Values in Action: The Blueprint for Authentic Leadership
Leadership isn’t about adopting someone else’s style. It’s about leading in a way that’s genuinely aligned with who you are; one that requires knowing what you stand for.
When you’re aware of your values, you:
- Make decisions faster, with more confidence
- Communicate more clearly, especially under pressure
- Lead with consistency, which builds trust
- Create a team culture that reflects your core beliefs
- Reduce complexity
This is what “authentic leadership” is really about. Not being perfect, but being true.
And as research shows, teams respond to that kind of leadership. It increases motivation, clarity, and resilience. People know where you’re coming from, and they can feel your integrity.
Lead From the Inside Out
The most effective leaders don’t just manage performance. They manage meaning and emotion.
They know that in a changing world, values provide a rare form of stability and a compass for action. Your values don’t just tell you what matters. They help you become the kind of leader who matters.
So pause. Reflect. Ask yourself:
- What do I stand for?
- And how explicitly is that lived out in the way I lead?
Because when your values are clear, your leadership becomes clearer too. This goes for leadership concerning leading others and for conscious life leadership, that is, the aware leading of your own life.
References
Baunsgaard, Vibeke Vad (2023). Taking Ownership of your Life Makes you a Better Person, Leader & Manager. ManageMagazine
Schwartz, S. H. (1992). Universals in the content and structure of values: Theoretical advances and empirical tests in 20 countries. In M. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (Vol. 25, pp. 1–65). Academic Press.
Woodward, I. C., & Shaffakat, S. (2014). Understanding Values for Insightfully Aware Leadership. INSEAD Knowledge.
