Living and Leading with Values
Theme: Values
Living and Leading with Values
When we talk about values in leadership, we often focus on the value (i.e., service or profit) our organizations provide to stakeholders. But in this post, we’re exploring VALUES—the beliefs that guide how we act and make decisions, both personally and professionally.
Values are at the heart of mindful leadership, especially for neurodivergent leaders. Understanding your own values and those of your organization is essential for leading authentically, aligning with your principles, and thriving in your role.
What Are Values?
Google AI defines values as:
"Beliefs that guide how people act and make decisions. They can be intrinsic, sacred, or a means to an end, and can vary across cultures, time, and individuals."
I’d add that values can also be situational for many people—a concept that can feel foreign for autistic folks like me, who often prefer to apply values universally.
Here’s a breakdown of the different types of values:
Personal Values: The beliefs that guide your actions in life. These are your compass, inside and outside of work.
Organizational Values: The principles that define how an organization operates, treats people, and serves stakeholders. They often tie into its mission and vision.
Professional Values: The "happy medium" between personal and organizational values. These guide your decisions at work while respecting the organization’s goals.
Why Values Matter for Leadership
As a leader, understanding your values can help you:
Align Your Actions: Lead authentically by ensuring your decisions reflect your principles.
Choose the Right Organization: Work in an environment that supports or complements your personal values.
Support Your Team: Create a values-driven culture that builds trust and fosters engagement.
For neurodivergent leaders, the gap between written and unwritten organizational values can be especially challenging. Unspoken norms and social cues may be hard to decipher, making it vital to:
Clarify your own values.
Observe and inquire about organizational values.
Develop professional values that honor both your principles and workplace expectations.
Examples of Values in Action
Let’s take a common value: family.
Personal Value: I prioritize my family’s health and well-being.
Organizational Value: We trust employees to take care of their families when needed.
Professional Value: I ensure my team can handle family emergencies without unnecessary hurdles.
When leaders align these values, they foster trust and loyalty. When they don’t, it creates resentment and disengagement.
Below I’m including a random picture I found online of a Word Cloud representing many different types of values, but this list is not exhaustive. Some that jump out to me as a leader and leadership coach are:
Ethics
Respect
Trust
Authenticity
Standards
Purpose
That just names a few. But I thought it could be helpful to see a few examples as you work to brainstorm what you feel is most important to you in your own life and in your work.
Challenges for Neurodivergent Leaders
Many neurodivergent individuals, myself included, face unique challenges around values:
Masking and Compromising: In the past, I went along with actions that clashed with my values to keep the peace. It created a painful cognitive dissonance.
Pressure to Conform: Others’ expectations can push us to ignore our principles, leading to burnout or regret.
Overextending: Values like “helpfulness” can lead to overcommitment, stress, or enabling others to avoid growth.
Values work requires thoughtfulness. Without it, our actions can unintentionally cause harm or contradict our beliefs.
Tips for Living and Leading Through Values
While values are deeply personal, here are some steps to help you align your actions with your principles:
Remember the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Identify Your Values: Reflect on what truly matters to you. Use tools like the free workbook linked below to get started.
Assess Alignment: Regularly check how your values align with your actions and organizational culture.
Communicate Clearly: Share your values with your team to create transparency and trust.
Make Values-Based Decisions: Use your values as a filter for decisions, especially during tough situations.
A Free Workbook to Get Started
To help you explore your values and those of your organization, I’ve created a free workbook. It’s designed to:
Help you identify personal, professional, and organizational values.
Compare and align them.
Create affirmations to stay grounded in your principles.
Download the Values Workbook here.
Final Thoughts
As neurodivergent leaders, living into our values can be both empowering and challenging. The key is reflection, alignment, and intentional action. If you’d like support in applying your values to your leadership, I’m here to help.
Book a Clarity Chat to learn how we can work together.
In this season of reflection and renewal, take time to revisit what truly matters to you. Your values are the foundation of your leadership—and your life.
