10 Core Values Every Leader Should Possess

What makes a good leader? Most people intertwine leadership beliefs and values with personal values. According to Jozef (Jos) Opdeweegh, international CEO and author of Fair Value: a manifesto for leadership, leaders must ensure their work is compatible with the values they form.

While every leader will have a variety of personalities and styles, they share various traits that came up either in the corporate world or in the political arena. Leadership values are closely linked to the leader’s personal values and the values of the company. 

Here, Jozef Opdeweegh breaks down the core values of a great leader with a list of core leadership values. 

1.  Influence

Influence is the ability to motivate, encourage, and guide others to act in a specific way and achieve certain goals. Leaders need this value to empower others to choose particular actions and beliefs instead of forcing them into those actions and beliefs via micromanagement. 

2.  Honesty

Honesty makes leaders trustworthy. It is the ability to discuss topics with others in the organization clearly and truthfully. Good leaders are transparent, and it is easy for others to rely on everything they say. The trust and respect employees have for the leader makes them more effective. 

3.  Vision

A vision is the ability to know your objectives and goals and create a clear plan to achieve those goals. It is a significant core value for every leader to ensure they effectively communicate to their teams what the goals are and their importance.

4.  Passion

A passion refers to the fulfillment and motivation that drives a leader to continue working and achieving their goals when facing challenges and setbacks. Leaders who are genuinely passionate about their work can reflect the same on their employees. It creates a work culture where all team members feel inspired and passionate about their work.

5.  Dedication

Dedication refers to the commitment to achieving a goal, task, or principle. Strong leaders are highly dedicated to their teams, their work, and the company goals. They show the same dedication by solving challenges and reaching the bottom line. The high level of leader dedication pushes others to demonstrate the same commitment to their work.

6.  Integrity

For integrity is being genuine and honest to do the right thing at all times. A strong sense of integrity is essential for leaders as your team members will learn to trust and respect what you say and do. It also shows them they can count on you to keep your promises. 

7.  Personal development

Leadership skills change with changes in the organization. Great leaders always find new things to learn and improve upon. Showing your team members that you are committed to personal development will motivate them to take action on their personal growth. Be transparent about taking leadership training courses to show your seriousness and committment.

8.  Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand the feelings and emotions of others and then reason to their actions and behavior in a way showing you understand them. Leaders should have the emotional intelligence to build a genuine connection with their teams and help them overcome personal and professional challenges for improved efficiency and productivity. 

9.  Respect

Respect is the feeling of admiration for qualities, achievements, and abilities. Good leaders earn the respect of their employees. They don’t expect to receive respect because of their position or title. One way to earn respect is to show respect too.

10. Resilience

Resilience refers to the ability to face adversity and recover from any setbacks, obstacles, and challenges encountered. Leaders need to be resilient as they face several challenges and barriers to achieving their goals. Resilience can help you address challenges and issues whenever they occur for improved efficiency and productivity.  

Wrapping Up

Jos’ advice to anyone aspiring to be a great leader is to remember that a career is like a race. The best way to perform better is through long-term commitment and work through the inevitable ups and downs, setbacks, and achieving success. Learn more about being a great leader with his book “Fair Value”.