Core Values – The Lever to Keep Leadership on Track

Leading without core principles is like driving without GPS. The book shows how to identify core values to stand firm amid workplace storms.
Have you ever faced a dilemma between short-term gains and long-term principles? As a leader, you wrestle with pressures from your team, superiors, and yourself. Rising Above declares: “Core values are the deep-seated principles and beliefs that guide our behavior and decisions.” For new leaders, this is the bedrock to avoid being swayed by the crowd. Middle managers use it to hold their ground when KPIs loom large. Senior leaders turn it into a strategic lever, ensuring the organization stays true to its course.

Chapter 1 lists the benefits: consistency, credibility, increased happiness, and sound decision-making. Picture this: you’re a middle manager facing a demand to cut staff for profit. If your core values are “responsibility” and “compassion,” you’ll seek alternatives to mass layoffs. That’s how Rising Above helps you lead with both heart and mind.

The book offers a list of 20 common core values—honesty, perseverance, creativity, family, etc.—and encourages you to pick 3-5 that matter most. For example, choosing “passion” and “personal growth” means your decisions will center on fostering team learning and innovation. New leaders will find this a way to craft their unique style. Middle managers balance pressure and ethics. Senior leaders reinforce long-term vision.

Try it now: list five values you cherish most, then check if your current work aligns with them. If not, you’re off course! Rising Above isn’t just a book—it’s the GPS for your leadership journey. Are you ready to turn it on?