Leadership values are at the core of the leadership diet and the guiding principles in our lives. What we value as leaders is typically displayed through our communications, behaviors, initiatives, and accomplishments. These values are a representation of our intentions and our integrity, and what is truly important to us as leaders. However, our true values are displayed through our daily interactions and behaviors.

As leaders, our purpose is to guide others to accomplish desired outcomes. Think of your leadership values as those characteristics which you consider the most important to help motivate and guide others to accomplish the desired outcomes. I often find that what people hold as core values stem from deeply held beliefs and authentically define who they are at their core.

The leadership values you display transcend your organization and those you lead, and will impact the performance of your organization, and ultimately its overall culture.

I often ask leaders to assess and define their leadership values statement. When leaders adopt a values statement it provides them with clarify around who they are, what is important to them, and what vision they are working towards. This can be accomplished with a simple exercise of writing a leadership values statement. This exercises forces them to assess what kind of leader they are and what kind of leader they want to be. When I completed this exercise, the leadership value statement that I adopted was to . . .

To lead with honesty, integrity, and respect; And to teach with wisdom, patience, and compassion.

Cheryl Miller

I challenge you to write your own leadership values statement. Here are some steps for an easy exercise you can follow to write a meaning leadership values statement.

Step 1: Review the list of “value” words listed below and sort them into 3 categories 1) those that you “always value”, 2) those that you “often value”, and 3) those that you “value least”. The trick is, that you cannot sort more than five words in the “always value” category.

Step 2: Select three out of the five “value” words you sorted into the “always value” category and construct a statement of what you value. You may want to expand it to include the why, what, when or where these values are important to you.

Step 3: Write down you values statement. Post it, read it daily, share it with others, display behaviors consistent with these values, and/or adopt any other strategies which may motivate you to lead in a way aligned with your values statement

Value Words

Honesty – Expressing only the truth

Respectful – Regarding others with honor and consideration 

Integrity – Your actions match your beliefs

Competence – Being good at what I do, capable, effective

Perseverance – Staying with tasks through completion 

Challenge – Testing your limits physically

Knowledge – Continuous learning, looking for intellectual stimulation 

Health – Tending to physical and mental well-being

Teamwork – Collaborating with others to reach 

Self-Esteem – Accepting and respecting yourself

Inner Harmony – Seeking inner peace and integration 

Family – Attending to and enjoying time with loved ones

Helping – Reaching out to meet other’s needs

Communication – Open exchange of views

Personal Growth – Committed to a process of ever developing self-awareness and skills

Self Control – Restraint, able to discipline self

Tolerance – Respecting those different from you

Achievement – Visible evidence of successfully completed endeavors 

Fairness – Treating everyone equally, with respect

Stability – Dependability, able to predict experience 

Rationality – Emotionally detached, clear logical thinking 

Pleasure – Seeking enjoyment and delight

Creativity – Open to discovery of new ways, innovative

Friendship – On-going close relationships

Intimacy – Solid and deep emotional relationship

Spiritual Growth – Connection to a higher purpose, devine presence

Intellectual Status – Being seen as a knowledgeable expert

Safety – Security, free from risk and worry 

Aesthetic – Respect for beauty and artistry

Consensus – Forming decisions everyone can support 

Appearance – Taking care of looks, dressing well and keeping in shape

Courageous – Standing up for what you believe in, even when risky

Peace – End of war, non-violent conflict resolution

Forgiveness – Capable of pardoning and moving on 

Power – The ability to influence the behavior of myself and others

Diplomacy – Searching for common ground to resolve conflict

Belonging – Being accepted and liked by others

Recognition – Having others notice good work 

Ecology – Taking care of the Earth 

Advancement – Wanting to move up, get ahead 

Prosperity – Able to afford things you want, well-off

Adventure – Taking risks, challenging yourself 

Community – Close involvement with neighbors

Play – Doing just for fun, spontaneity 

Neatness – Having things clean and in order

Tradition – Consideration for the way things have customarily been done

Authority – Steering the process, having power to direct events

Competition – “Beating” others, coming in first