Ever wonder what makes a truly great leader; it’s about aligning your leadership with your core values. When you lead with purpose, you create a positive, motivating environment that inspires your team and makes a real impact. Let’s dive into how you can align your leadership with your values for greater impact. Why Values Matter in Leadership At the start of 2022 during the COVID-19 lockdowns, I found myself in a tough spot. I had just moved into a new apartment in Austin and quit my job to pursue a PhD program. Instead of feeling excited, I felt anxious, scared, and alone. I worried about how I would support myself for the next two years. To cope, I tried something new. I bought a journal and spent two hours each morning writing and asking myself tough questions: Who is Bianca? What was I born to do? What do I value in myself and others? At first, it was hard. But slowly, things became clearer. I realized I had quit my job because I saw the CEO doing something very unethical to clients. I couldn’t support a place like that. This realization also made me see why I chose to pursue my PhD. With this new clarity, my anxiety began to fade. I knew I was on the right path and felt ready to face whatever came next. This experience taught me an important lesson: when you know your values and principles, you can make decisions with confidence, even in uncertain times. That’s because they are the guiding principles that shape your decisions and actions. When your values and behavior are aligned, it builds trust and respect among your team. People are more likely to willingly follow leaders who are consistent and genuine. Plus, it can improve your own sense of purpose at work. By staying true to yourself, you will gain the trust of your team and enhance your own sense of fulfillment. So, if you’re interested in learning more about your own values, where do you start? Three Steps to Find Your Core Values Before you can lead with your values, you need to figure out what they are. Here are three steps to help you achieve this: 1. Reflect on Personal Experiences First, reflect on the times when you felt proud or fulfilled at work or in life. What values were you living during those moments? This reflection helps you identify what truly matters to you. When I went through this process, I realized that my decision to quit my job was driven by my strong integrity. Such reflections can also help you pinpoint your core values. Keep a journal and write down moments of pride and fulfillment to uncover recurring themes that represent your values. 2. Consider Role Models Next, think about people you admire. What values do they demonstrate? This can help you understand what you want to cultivate in your own leadership. If you need more inspiration, take a moment to list three role models. Write down the qualities they embody. Then, consider how you can incorporate these into your leadership style. 3. List Your Top Priorities Finally, take some time to list the top five things that are most important to you in both life and work. These priorities often reflect your core values and can serve as a guide for your leadership style. My experience taught me that I valued relationships, integrity, authenticity, growth, and passion. After listing my five priorities, I realized that my job didn’t align with any of them. Once you’ve identified your priorities, create a vision board to help you visualize and remind yourself of the qualities you want to embody every day. Regularly seeing these reminders can reinforce your commitment to living by them. Knowing your core values gives you a clear roadmap for your leadership journey. Leading by Example Actions speak louder than words, so it’s important to embody your values in everything you do. Show your team what they look like in practice. If you value teamwork, collaborate and support your colleagues. Your behavior sets a powerful example for your team to follow. To help you with this, identify one value you want to focus on each week and consciously practice it in your daily interactions. Leading by example reinforces your priorities and encourages your team to adopt them as well. Conclusion Aligning your leadership with your values makes you a more effective leader and creates a positive and inspiring workplace. By understanding and living your core values, you can make a greater impact on your team and company. Remember, it’s not just about what you achieve, but how you achieve it. Lead authentically, and you’ll make a difference that matters. For more leadership development tips, follow my LinkedIn or check out my podcast, Next-Gen Leaders. Until next time, keep striving, growing, and leading with purpose.
