Why values could be a leaders most valuable asset

Who am I? A question most of us have asked at one point or another. One of the things that make us, well us, are our values. They’re at the core of who we are, they’re what’s really important to us at the end of the day. We all have them, however, we’re often unaware of if and how they guide us in our daily decisions. If we are unaware of them or they are not clearly defined, it is easier to ignore them or act in ways that are not consistent with them. This often leads to inconsistent decision-making, confusing and alienating our team and our clients and even our friends and family. When clearly defined, however, our values can become our most valuable tool! Since we all have them anyways, we might as well make use of them, right?

I’m not here to tell you which values are “better” than others or which are “the best” for a leader – that does not exist and would honestly be a fruitless endeavor to undertake. I’d simply like to entice you to start consciously thinking about your values and the decisions they entail.

So. How can your values make you more effective and confident?

• Decision Making

Your values can help you make big and small decisions quicker, easier and, most importantly, more confidently. If you run the tough decisions you have to make against the set of values you have developed for yourself, the once so difficult decision often seems easy. Sometimes there really is only one option that makes sense when basing your decision on your values!

• Clarity

Understanding your values means understanding who you are, as a leader, as well as as a person. Using your values as a starting points can help you understand your goals, it can help you focus on the things that truly matter and it can help you be more productive in achieving those goals.

• Consistency

One of the most valued leadership qualities across teams is consistency. A leader who is dependable and who will stick to his principles and values is a leader of whom team members know what to expect. You acting in line with your values will result in your team members trusting you more. They will know what you are looking for in their work and what your deal breakers are. Knowing and acting in line with your values, will help you as well as your team members create a positive and productive atmosphere within your team and enable you to more easily reach your goals.

• Passion

Leading from your values means leading with passion. Your values are the basis around which you as a person have built your life. They are the spark that gives fire to your passions. When you lead from your values, you speak with passion. People will be more likely to not only hear but listen to your message.

Start working on your values today!

So take half an hour out of your day, make yourself a good cup of coffee or tea and start writing down and outlining your three to five core values that all your decisions and actions can be traced back to. I try to do this exercise on a regular-ish basis (at least once a year, ideally every three months to half a year) since values can and do change as we learn new things and develop ourselves personally and professionally. We’re all constantly evolving - and our values alongside us.

P.S.: If you need some help to get started, there’s loads of “lists of values” available online that you can use. Start by picking 20 in about 5 minutes, narrow it down to 10 in 3 minutes. Follow it up by narrowing it down again to 5, then 3, then 1, always giving yourself about 1 - 3 minutes. Your gut feeling is your best guide on this! Also - let me know, if you did the exercise! I’d love to hear if / how it helps you!