When Values Come First, Leadership Lasts

The Compass of Leadership

The hardest leadership decisions aren’t about performance — they’re about alignment.

Every leader faces pressure: unclear decisions, unexpected crises, or moments where it would be easier to react than to lead.

What separates green leaders from evergreen leaders is whether they have a compass. That compass is values.

Values keep leaders (and their teams) aligned. They guide decisions, anchor culture, and create clarity when everything else feels uncertain.

Without values, leaders default to reacting instead of leading. They chase short-term wins at the expense of long-term trust.

Values vs. Short-Term Fixes: A Real Example

Imagine a company facing financial pressure:

• A short-term fix might be to slash employee training because it saves money right now.
• A values-based decision would recognize that learning is part of the company’s DNA. So instead of cutting development, the leader finds other efficiencies that don’t erode the culture.

One decision solves a problem today. The other strengthens the organization for tomorrow.

Evergreen leaders choose values first — and that’s why their influence lasts.

How to Clarify Your Leadership Values

If you haven’t clearly named your leadership values, decision-making will always feel heavier than it needs to. Here’s a simple framework you (or your team) can use this week:

Step 1 – Reflect Think about leaders you admire. What qualities do they consistently show? (e.g., integrity, courage, compassion, excellence, resilience)

Step 2 – Choose 3 Circle or select the three values that best reflect the kind of leader you want to be.

Step 3 – Define Them Write one sentence for each: “For me, [value] means…”

Step 4 – Use Them Before making a decision, ask yourself: “Which option best aligns with my values?”

This is how leaders move from reactive to consistent. And how cultures shift from fragile to strong.

Bonus Tool: Your Leadership Values Worksheet

Want a simple way to reflect on and apply your values?

Download the Top 3 Leadership Values Worksheet (PDF)

Use it for your own clarity, in your next 1:1, or as a reflection activity in a team meeting.

Leadership in the Hard Moments: When Values Matter Most

As leaders, our values are often tested in ways that don’t feel easy.

A few years ago, one of my admin team members — let’s call her Amy — was struggling. I had invested a lot of time into mentoring, training, and coaching her. She was eager, kind, and loved being part of the team.

But despite all the support, she couldn’t perform the essential responsibilities of her role.

Here’s the hard part:

• Amy was well-liked.
• She cared deeply about the team.
• I knew she was facing serious personal challenges outside of work.

I cared deeply about her as a person. But the reality was clear — she wasn’t able to perform her role.

Letting her go was one of the hardest leadership decisions I’ve had to make.

But I chose to do it with honesty and compassion. I told her we had done everything we could, and that I believed the role simply wasn’t the right fit for her skills.

Her response?

“You’ve been the best leader I’ve ever had. I’ve grown so much under your leadership.”

That moment reminded me: when values guide your leadership, even the hardest decisions can leave people better than when they arrived.

A Challenge for You

This week, take 5 minutes and ask yourself:

• What are your top 3 leadership values?
• How would your team describe them?
• Where can you make one decision that’s intentionally rooted in your values?

Because here’s the truth: Strategies shift. Markets change. Circumstances evolve. But values? They’re what make leadership evergreen.

Next Issue: We’ll explore the most powerful leadership skill for building trust: Communication That Connects.