Every decision you make as a leader—big or small—is influenced by something deeper than strategy, targets, or KPIs. It is guided by your personal values.
This Fortnightly Focus is based on Small Change 1.1 – Clarify Your Personal Values from An Entrepreneur’s Guide. It highlights a truth many leaders sense but don’t always articulate: where you want to go in life and business is inseparable from what you value most.
Why Personal Values Matter in Leadership
Your personal values are the beliefs, principles, and standards that shape how you think, feel, and behave. They are influenced by your upbringing, culture, experiences, and education—and over time, they quietly guide your decisions.
In business, this matters more than we often realise.
When leaders understand and live by their values, they are more likely to:
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Make ethical and consistent decisions
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Build trust and credibility with employees and stakeholders
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Create a positive and authentic business culture
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Stay grounded during difficult or conflicting situations
Values act as a compass, helping you navigate complexity and uncertainty without losing sight of who you are.
Values as the Foundation of Business Culture
Your personal values don’t stop at the door when you step into work—they flow directly into the value system of your business.
When your values align with your business objectives:
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Employees experience greater clarity and motivation
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Decision-making becomes faster and more principled
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Work satisfaction and engagement improve
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Your business reputation strengthens organically
Conversely, misalignment between personal values and business direction often shows up as tension, disengagement, or ethical discomfort.
Importantly, values are not fixed forever. As your life, business, and aspirations evolve, so too can your values. Regular reflection ensures they remain aligned with the impact you want to make.
Small Changes That Deliver Impact
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Name your core values. Identify the beliefs and principles that are non-negotiable for you as a leader.
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Prioritise them. Not all values carry equal weight—clarity comes from understanding what matters most.
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Test alignment. Reflect on how your values show up in your leadership decisions and behaviours.
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Use values as a decision filter. When faced with tough choices, ask: Which option best reflects who I want to be?
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Revisit regularly. Values evolve—build time to reassess them as your life and business change.
Impact Perspective
Values-based leadership strengthens both personal fulfilment and business performance. Leaders who are clear on their values tend to:
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Lead with authenticity and consistency
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Inspire trust and motivation in others
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Make decisions they can stand behind with confidence
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Create organisations that reflect purpose, not just profit
Over time, this clarity supports ethical leadership and a more positive impact on employees, customers, and the wider community.
Reflection Questions for Leaders
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What values currently guide my most important leadership decisions?
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Where do I feel strong alignment—or tension—between my values and my business goals?
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How visible are my values in my day-to-day leadership behaviours?
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Which values may have evolved as my life or business has changed?
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What would shift if I used my values more consciously as a decision-making compass?
January and February only - Special for the Design Your Best Life Programme
Cost:
✨ Normally USD $197 — now just USD $97
✨ Two people can access the programme for the price of one registration
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Lead effectively and live fully
