Stepping into a leadership role isn’t just about getting the title, it’s about owning the way you want to lead.

And that starts with values.

Your values shape how you communicate, the kind of culture you create, and the way people experience working with you. When you’re clear on what you stand for, leadership becomes less draining and more effective. You don’t have to second-guess every decision. You don’t have to perform. You just lead, in alignment.

Below are three powerful prompts to help you define your unique leadership values, plus a simple template to create your own Leadership Values Statement

Journal Prompt 1: What do I want people to experience when they work with me. What behaviours do I never want to recreate?

Think about both the environments that brought out your best and those that left you drained. What made the difference? This will surface the values that matter most to you, and the ones you want to actively protect in your leadership.

Journal Prompt 2: When have I felt most proud of how I handled a leadership moment. What values were present?

Look for patterns in the moments where you showed up in a way that felt aligned and powerful. What did you stand for? What made it feel right?

Journal Prompt 3: What do I want my peers and leaders to say about my leadership style when I’m not in the room?

This can help you define the reputation and impact you’re intentionally building. It’s not about being liked-it’s about being clear, consistent, and purposeful in how you lead.

Create Your Leadership Values Statement

Once you’ve reflected on the prompts above, try writing a simple values statement to guide how you lead:

“I lead by [value 1], [value 2], and [value 3], so that my team experiences [intended impact] and we achieve [business outcome].”

Example: I lead by clarity, empathy, and courage, so that my team experiences trust and direction and we achieve sustained, high-impact results without burnout.

This can serve as your personal North Star-something you come back to when leadership feels messy or hard.

You don’t have to lead like everyone else.

You just have to lead like you.

Have a question? Ask me, by leaving a comment below. I would love to help you!

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👋🏾 Hi, I’m Sheree.
I help high-performing new leaders shift from doing the work to leading with clarity and confidence. Through real-world tools, coaching, and my Leadership Accelerator program, I support you to fast track your leadership journey.

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