There comes a moment in every leader’s life when the meetings, the targets, the grind fade into the background. And what remains? What you stood for. How you showed up. What people say about working with you, or for you.
Were you the leader who developed others? Who drove disruption? Who could always be counted on? Who put others first?
Because when the precedent hasn’t been set, when technology has no answer, when the spotlight is on you—there’s no manual to reach for. Leadership comes from within. From the values that anchor you.
Our values are more than guideposts. They are who we are. What we believe. Who we strive to be.
When we know them—and live them—we lead with confidence, clarity, and purpose. When we don’t, we drift, we drain, we fall short of our best.
That’s why this exercise matters. To name your values. To claim them. And to lead from them.
Instructions
From the word list, select any number of descriptors that:
Capture how you want to be known as a leader.
Reflect who you are today or who you aspire to be—both as a leader and as a person.(Tip: If a word that matters to you isn’t on the list, add it.)
Narrow your selections to a maximum of seven (7) values—the ones that matter most.
Use your final list to complete the Values Alignment Exercise & Personal Reflection Worksheet.
This isn’t about picking nice words—it’s about defining what anchors you when leadership gets hard.
Do not over-think your selections. Follow your instincts.
