Why Are Core Values Essential for Leadership?
By Dr. Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Global Leader & Author of 28COE Core Values – Edition 1
Leadership is more than strategy, charisma, or decision-making—it is character in action. In today’s volatile and complex world, leaders are constantly faced with challenges that test their ethics, resilience, and vision. The one thing that helps them remain anchored? Core values.
Core values are the foundational beliefs that shape how a leader thinks, decides, acts, and influences. They are the invisible roots that hold a leader steady when the winds of crisis, uncertainty, and rapid change blow hard.
As someone who has built and led multiple startups and global platforms, and as the author of 28COE Core Values – Edition 1, I firmly believe that core values are not optional—they are essential. They should be defined, practiced, and embedded in every leadership journey from day one.
What Are Core Values in Leadership?
Core values in leadership are the deeply held principles that guide a leader’s behaviors, choices, and relationships. They represent the “why” behind every “what” and serve as a moral and strategic compass.
Whether it’s integrity, empathy, accountability, or innovation—these values drive the vision, shape the culture, and define the legacy of a leader.
“Core values are not just what leaders believe; they are what leaders live—every day, in every decision.”
– Dr. Bilal Ahmad Bhat
Why Core Values Are Essential for Leadership
Let’s explore the crucial roles core values play in shaping effective, ethical, and enduring leadership:
1. Core Values Build Trust
Leadership is fundamentally a relationship of trust—with employees, customers, partners, and communities. When a leader consistently acts according to their values, people begin to trust their words and intentions.
💡 Example: A leader who practices transparency during difficult times—like layoffs or financial downturns—earns respect and maintains morale.
2. Values Drive Consistent Decision-Making
In a world of endless options, core values provide clarity and consistency. They eliminate confusion and help leaders make choices aligned with purpose rather than pressure.
💡 Example: When faced with a shortcut that could yield short-term profit but harm customers, a values-driven leader chooses long-term integrity over immediate gain.
3. Core Values Shape Organizational Culture
Leaders set the tone for culture. Their values become the organization’s values. When a leader lives humility, empathy, and excellence, these principles cascade down to every team member.
💡 Example: A leader who values collaboration over hierarchy creates an open, empowering culture that fosters innovation and psychological safety.
4. Values Empower Ethical Leadership
In moments of moral complexity, values act as an ethical North Star. They help leaders avoid compromise and stay grounded even under immense pressure.
💡 Example: A leader in the tech industry may decline a lucrative but unethical data deal because it goes against their core value of user privacy.
5. Values Attract and Retain Talent
Today’s workforce, especially Millennials and Gen Z, seek purpose, not just a paycheck. Leaders with strong, clear values attract like-minded talent and build teams committed to shared principles.
💡 Example: Employees are more likely to stay with an organization led by someone who prioritizes fairness, growth, and work-life balance.
6. Core Values Fuel Resilience and Focus
Leaders who know what they stand for are better equipped to handle adversity. Values give emotional endurance, helping leaders push through burnout, setbacks, and criticism without losing direction.
💡 Example: During a product failure, a resilient leader driven by the value of perseverance refocuses the team and rebuilds momentum.
7. Values Strengthen Vision and Legacy
A leader’s vision is only as powerful as the values that support it. Values shape not just what you accomplish, but how you are remembered.
💡 Example: Nelson Mandela’s leadership legacy is inseparable from values like justice, forgiveness, and equality. His values defined his vision and impact.
The 28COE Core Values Framework for Leaders
In my global leadership journey, I have formulated the 28COE Core Values, a comprehensive set of foundational values that empower leaders to create value-driven enterprises and ecosystems. These values include:
- Integrity
- Innovation
- Empowerment
- Vision
- Gratitude
- Accountability
- Collaboration
- Discipline
…and many more.
Each of these is a tool in a leader’s toolbox, guiding them not only in what they do—but in how they do it.
“Before a leader builds a team, a brand, or a business—they must build their value base.”
– Dr. Bilal Ahmad Bhat
Practicing Core Values in Leadership: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Define Your Personal Values
Reflect on your beliefs and principles. What do you stand for? - Align Decisions with Values
Filter every major decision through the lens of your values. - Communicate Values Openly
Let your team know what you value and why. Create accountability. - Embed Values into Strategy
From hiring to marketing, ensure your values are operationalized. - Lead by Example
Demonstrate values in your daily actions, not just words. - Recognize & Reward Value-Driven Behavior
Celebrate team members who live by the values.
Final Thoughts by Dr. Bilal Ahmad Bhat
As someone who has worked with startups, SMEs, social platforms, and empowerment ecosystems across the globe, I have seen one truth consistently:
The strongest, most sustainable leadership is built on the foundation of unwavering core values.
Without values, leadership becomes transactional. With values, it becomes transformational.
So, whether you’re leading a startup, a social movement, a community, or a nation—start with your values. Make them your first priority, not an afterthought. Your impact will multiply, your vision will clarify, and your legacy will endure.
Remember: Great leaders are not just known for what they built—but for what they stood for.