(By Dr Alastair Jones, Instep Leadership Training and Thought Leader)
It’s hard to miss the headlines lately: tariffs, no tariffs, resignations, and growing public mistrust in leadership across sectors and politics. These stories aren’t just about individuals. They reveal something deeper: when pressure mounts, our leadership values are tested most.
Leadership is easy when things are smooth. But that’s not when it really counts. Leadership shows up, or doesn’t, in the storm. When uncertainty creeps in. When targets loom large. When short-term wins threaten long-term integrity. That’s when values matter most.
As Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s, famously said: “The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.”
We often explore this with leaders during our development programmes at Cadence. Whether in the boardrooms of biotech firms or the labs of manufacturing companies, one theme keeps returning: *it’s in the moments of tension that our leadership is most visible — and our values most tested.*
Here Be Dragons
Remember those old maps from the age of exploration, where the edges of known territory were marked by monsters and the words “Here be dragons”? That’s exactly what it can feel like leading in today’s world, navigating unknown terrain, risk all around, no clear path forward.
And yet, this is precisely where great leadership begins. Like the explorers of old, we are invited into new terrain, to learn, adapt, and model courage for those who follow. As for those dragons on the map? They are more often imagined than real. What matters is the compass we carry.
That compass is our values.
Values as a Compass
Too often, organisational values are little more than marketing slogans: framed on the wall, listed on a website, but rarely lived in day-to-day decisions. But true values aren’t ornamental. They’re operational.
They are the invisible benchmarks that guide our choices when no one is watching. They shape how we lead meetings, manage difficult conversations, respond to failure, and make high-stakes decisions under pressure.
True leadership is not perfection — it is alignment:
- Alignment between what we say and what we do.
- Alignment between our personal values and the purpose of our organisation.
- Alignment between today’s decisions and tomorrow’s legacy.
When leaders lead from this place, we don’t just make better decisions. We create healthier cultures. Cultures where people know where they stand, feel safe to speak up, and trust that leadership is consistent, even when times get tough.
As Simon Sinek reminds us:
“Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.”
Know Your Red Lines
So how do we build this kind of integrity-driven leadership? It begins with self-awareness.
One of the most powerful actions you can take as a leader is to define your red lines, the non-negotiables that guide your choices before you’re in crisis mode. If we’ve already done the reflection when calm, we’re more equipped to stand firm when the pressure hits.
In Dare to Lead, Brene Brown encourages leaders to distil their values down to just “two core ones”. Not ten or fifteen, but two. Why? Because when push comes to shove, we can’t hold on to everything. We have to know what matters most.
This clarity feeds into our personal leadership brand, that potent mix of how we see ourselves, how others experience us, and how we act. When these three are aligned, we earn trust. People know what to expect from us, and that consistency is the foundation of integrity.
As Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of TIAA, puts it: “You rent your title. You own your character.”
Alignment in Action
In our leadership work at Instep, we often explore how individual values align with organisational culture. Interestingly, many participants find they were drawn to their employer because of a felt sense of shared purpose or values, even if they didn’t name it explicitly at the time. When alignment is strong, motivation soars. When it’s not, disengagement and friction creep in.
Take the recent example of David Stever, long-time CEO of Ben & Jerry’s. A passionate advocate for social justice, Stever felt the company’s values were being compromised after being prevented from taking a stand on a key issue. Even at personal and professional cost, he held his ground, believing that silence would betray the core principles that had guided the company for decades. The situation remains complex, but his decision is a striking example of values-based leadership in action.
Not every situation will be as dramatic, but every leader will face moments where compromise beckons. Having done the work beforehand makes all the difference.
Living Values Daily
Let’s not reduce leadership values to PowerPoint slides or annual staff surveys. Let’s make them real. In the conversations we have. In how we deal with pressure. In how we treat others, especially when nobody’s looking.
Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, captures this idea beautifully: “If you do every job like you’re going to do it for the rest of your life, that’s when you get noticed.”
Leadership is a daily practice, and values are the thread that holds it all together.
Questions to Reflect On
- What are your two core values as a leader?
- Where are you feeling most tested right now?
- How aligned are your personal values with the culture of your organisation?
- Are there any red lines you haven’t yet defined… but need to?
These are the kinds of questions we work through in our leadership programmes. Because leadership isn’t about the title. It’s about the tone we set, the culture we create, and the example we live.
Final Thought
In times of complexity and uncertainty, people look to leaders not just for direction, but for reassurance. When we lead from values, we offer both.
So let’s be the kind of leaders who don’t just talk about values, let’s live them. With courage. With consistency. And with the belief that when we hold the line, even when it’s tough, we pave the way for a stronger, healthier, and more human kind of leadership.
Do you need support embedding values-driven leadership in your organisation?
Book a free consultative meeting with Instep to explore how our training, and development programmes can support your people to lead with authenticity, clarity, and confidence.
