At the heart of every great leader you’ll find strong leadership values. Sure, expertise in a technical skill will make you rise to a senior position—but leading a team requires your human side to shine. Have you ever heard that not every boss is a leader? The distinction at the core of this criticism is that to be the latter you need to apply the values of a leader in everyday interactions.
If you're here after resources to strengthen your values and leadership, that's already a green flag for you. One of the key values of a leader is to be humble enough to know you can always learn something new. So let's get into the leadership core values, why they matter, and how to exercise them.
What are leadership values—and why do they matter?
Leadership values are the guiding principles that shape a leader's behavior and decision-making. These values are reflected in a leader's actions, words, and overall demeanor, setting the tone for team culture and inspiring trust and motivation.
Why does that matter, you ask? Well, leaders have the power to influence values that affect behavior. They can act like mirrors, creating a clear set of expectations and standards for their teams. Attitudes and behaviors come from our values, and these shape the foundation of leadership.
How values in leadership shape the workplace
Strong leadership values provide clarity and consistency in decision-making. They create a culture where team members feel respected, motivated, and empowered. To drive home the impact of values in leadership, here’s a list of palpable benefits that they bring about in teams.
- Building trust: Core values such as honesty and transparency foster an environment where employees feel safe sharing ideas and concerns.
- Enhancing collaboration: Values like respect and empathy encourage open communication and teamwork.
- Driving innovation: When leaders value creativity and adaptability, teams feel inspired to think outside the box.
- Strengthening resilience: Values like accountability and resilience help teams navigate challenges with confidence and determination.
Embody these 21 core values for leaders
Here are 21 leadership values and how they shape effective leadership:
- Humility: Great leaders recognize their limitations, listen to feedback, and remain open to learning. Humility fosters trust and shows your team that you value their contributions.
- Integrity: Leaders with strong integrity earn respect by demonstrating consistency between their words and actions. Integrity means acting with honesty and fairness in every situation.
- Empathy: Leaders who practice empathy create stronger relationships and address challenges with compassion. Empathy is the ability to understand and connect with others' emotions.
- Accountability: This value involves owning your actions and decisions—both the successes and the failures. By holding themselves accountable, leaders set a powerful example for their teams.
- Adaptability: The ability to pivot and adjust in the face of change is vital for leadership in today’s dynamic workplaces. Adaptable leaders inspire confidence and flexibility in their teams.
- Vision: A clear vision gives teams purpose and direction. Leaders with vision can inspire others to see the bigger picture and work toward shared goals.
- Communication: Strong communication ensures that expectations, feedback, and ideas flow effectively within a team. Leaders with excellent communication skills avoid misunderstandings and build stronger connections.
- Courage: It allows leaders to take risks, address difficult issues, and make tough decisions. It demonstrates confidence and inspires others to face challenges head-on.
- Transparency: This value builds trust and accountability. When leaders openly share information and rationale behind decisions, it strengthens team cohesion.
- Resilience: Resilient leaders can handle setbacks with grace, maintain focus, and inspire their teams to persevere during tough times.
- Service: A service-oriented leader prioritizes the needs of their team and organization, demonstrating a commitment to collective success over personal gain.
- Passion: This core value fuels energy and enthusiasm, motivating teams to engage fully and strive for excellence.
- Personal development: Great, emphatic leaders should see the person behind the deliverables and help them work towards their personal development—as well as share their own with the team. Personal growth sets an example for continuous learning and inspires others to do the same.
- Honesty: Truthful leaders foster an environment of openness. Honesty is foundational for trust and effective communication.
- Influence: Leaders influence, whether they acknowledge that power or not. Effective leaders use their influence to inspire positive action and guide their teams toward shared goals.
- Self-awareness: This value enables leaders to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and impact on others, fostering better relationships and decision-making.
- Trust: Leaders who build trust create a safe and collaborative environment. Trust is the cornerstone of strong teams.
- Wisdom: It combines experience, knowledge, and sound judgment, enabling leaders to make informed decisions.
- Collaboration: This value emphasizes teamwork and collective problem-solving, ensuring diverse perspectives contribute to success.
- Creativity: Creative leaders encourage innovation and out-of-the-box thinking, driving progress and adaptability.
- Empowerment: Empowering others fosters autonomy, confidence, and growth within a team, leading to greater overall success.
How to develop and strengthen your values as a leader
Let's put these leader values into practice. Cultivating leadership values is an ongoing process that requires self-reflection, practice, and dedication. Here are steps to strengthen your values as a leader:
Identify your core values
Take time to reflect on what matters most to you. What principles guide your decisions and behaviors? Consider how these values align with the needs of your team and organization.
Seek feedback
Ask colleagues, mentors, and team members for input on your leadership style. Understanding how others perceive you can provide valuable insights for growth.
This might help: 4 Steps for Asking for (and Getting) Truly Honest Feedback
Lead by example
One way to positively influence values is by modeling the behaviors you want to see in others. When you consistently act with integrity, empathy, and accountability, your team will follow suit.
Invest in personal development
Leadership growth often requires continuous learning. Attend workshops, read leadership books, and practice self-awareness to enhance your skills.
Practice resilience and adaptability
Leadership comes with challenges. Embrace setbacks as opportunities to demonstrate resilience and adaptability, showing your team how to stay focused in the face of adversity.
Build trust through communication
Transparent and honest communication strengthens relationships and creates a positive work culture. Make time for regular check-ins, actively listen, and address concerns promptly.
Flaunt those values
Leadership values are the foundation of impactful leadership. By embracing principles like humility, integrity, empathy, and vision, you can positively influence attitudes and behaviors that drive success. Developing these values takes time and effort, but the rewards are significant—both for your team and your personal growth as a leader. Remember, values in leadership are the blueprint for becoming the kind of leader others trust, respect, and want to follow.
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