Leadership Values
Integrating Your Values Into Your Work
Integrating your values into your work isn’t just about following ideals; it means consciously aligning your behavior, communication, and goals with what you believe in. This commitment helps you connect authentically with others, building trust and fostering a positive, inspiring work environment. It also strengthens your resilience, as values-driven decisions are often deeply fulfilling and sustaining. Even in difficult situations, staying true to your values can provide a sense of peace and purpose, reinforcing your confidence in the choices you make.
Example Values
Compassion: Demonstrate empathy, understanding, and kindness in all interactions.
Collaboration: Foster a supportive work environment, valuing diverse skills and perspectives.
Professionalism: Uphold integrity, accountability, and ethical conduct.
Accountability: Commit to meeting and exceeding expectations
Innovation: Encourage creativity to find effective, high-quality solutions.
Reliability: Consistently follow through on responsibilities.
Integrity: Commit to honesty, transparency, and doing what is best.
Communication: Foster clear, open, and transparent communication.
Quality Improvement: Strive for ongoing enhancements to services and care.
Identify Your Values
While every value may seem important, choosing a core set of 5 to 10 allows you to prioritize without feeling overwhelmed. Narrowing your focus helps you find clarity in moments of choice and consistency in the way you lead. These selected values act as an anchor, giving you a reference point that brings stability in times of uncertainty and complexity. They create a framework that supports who you are and who you strive to be as a leader.
Choosing and emphasizing specific values doesn’t mean disregarding others. Instead, it’s about establishing a foundation that defines your unique leadership identity. These values become your “north star,” a guiding light that orients you as you grow and evolve in your career. They shape not only your own journey but also the experiences of those around you, helping you make an impact that resonates with integrity, purpose, and intention. Embracing and embodying your professional values is, at its core, a commitment to building a legacy of meaningful, values-driven leadership.
Deciding on your professional values is a personal and reflective exercise that can be both straightforward and challenging. For some, it may feel intuitive, like reaffirming principles already present in your work. For others, it requires deeper introspection. Start by reflecting on past experiences: consider situations where you felt genuinely fulfilled or proud of how you handled a challenge—what values were at play? Equally, think of times of frustration, as these moments can reveal what’s important by showing what was missing. Review potential values and notice which resonate with you, aiming to select 5 to 10 that truly reflect your core beliefs. Keep in mind that these values might shift as you progress in your career; as your roles, responsibilities, and experiences evolve, so might your core priorities. For example, you may prioritize adaptability early in your career but emphasize mentorship as you gain experience. The goal is to choose values that authentically represent you today, knowing that they’re flexible and can evolve alongside your growth as a leader.
What are Leadership Values?
Leadership values are the core principles that define how you approach your role, make decisions, and interact with others. They act as a moral compass, guiding your actions, grounding your choices, and influencing your behavior both in predictable circumstances and when faced with unexpected challenges.
Why Do We Need Them?
By identifying and embracing these values, you establish a foundation for a leadership style that is both authentic and impactful. Leadership values are not merely ideals; they are actionable guidelines that shape your unique approach to building relationships, solving problems, and setting goals. They help create a purposeful framework that connects you to your vision, inspires others, and ultimately drives your career forward in meaningful ways.
Understanding and living by your professional values is essential for any leader who seeks a fulfilling and impactful career. These values are the principles that guide how you approach your work, interact with others, and make decisions. They shape your daily actions and inform your long-term goals, helping you stay aligned with what truly matters to you in your role. When your values are clear, they become a compass for navigating both the predictable and unexpected aspects of your career, grounding you in authenticity and purpose.
Discover Your Core Leadership Values
Our "Leadership Values Quiz" is designed to help you identify the principles that guide and define your approach as a leader. By considering real-world scenarios and selecting responses that resonate with you, you’ll uncover the values that shape your decisions, interactions, and vision. Whether you prioritize integrity, innovation, empathy, adaptability, or collaboration, this quiz will help you clarify what matters most to you in your role.
Take the Quiz
Download the quiz below to discover which values form the foundation of your leadership style.