From Values to Action: Living What You Stand For

katrincharlton
Sep 16
4 min read

Updated: Oct 2

In a recent coaching conversation, a client had just finished defining their values.

Growth. Authenticity. Loyalty. Courage. They paused, looked at me, and said:

💬 “So what? I’ve got them on paper — now what do I actually do with them?”

It’s a question I hear often — from senior leaders, from teams in transition, and even at the organisational level when values are printed on walls but don’t quite show up in the culture. And it’s the right question to ask.

Because naming your values is only the first step. The true leadership test — for individuals and for organisations — is this:

✨ How do you go from knowing your values to actually living them day-to-day, especially under pressure?

This is where values turn from a tidy list into a living, guiding compass for how leaders decide, how teams collaborate, and how organisations build trust and resilience.

Why Knowing Isn’t Enough

Research shows that simply writing down your values offers a fleeting boost in clarity and resilience, but, as Kernis & Goldman (2006) highlight, lasting impact only comes when those values are consistently translated into behaviour.

For leaders, that means aligning actions with principles, especially in high-stakes moments.
For teams, it means embedding values into ways of working — not just project goals.
For organisations, it means ensuring that stated values are mirrored in culture, policies, and behaviours.

That’s when trust deepens, decisions become clearer, and leadership at every level feels authentic.

🧠 Neuroscience Nugget: What Happens in the Brain

When actions align with values, the brain’s reward system (especially the ventral striatum) is engaged, creating feelings of motivation and satisfaction. The prefrontal cortex—responsible for planning, regulation, and perspective-taking—also gets a boost, enhancing wise, long-term decision-making (Mobbs et al., 2009).

When actions contradict values, the brain signals cognitive dissonance, which increases the stress response and depletes energy, potentially leading to disengagement or burnout (Festinger, 1957; Rock & Schwartz, 2006).

At scale, the same pattern shows up in organisations: when stated values don’t match lived behaviours, employees disengage, trust erodes, and culture fractures. Alignment, on the other hand, fuels clarity, resilience, and sustainable performance across the system.

Bringing Your Values into Leadership, Teams, and Organisations

Translate values into behaviours
- Leader: If “integrity” is a core value, what does it look like under pressure? Perhaps speaking up in the boardroom.
- Team: If “collaboration” is a value, does it show in how meetings are run or how credit is shared?
- Organisation: If “innovation” is a stated value, does the company reward experimentation — even when it fails?
Embed them in decision-making
- Before making a big call, pause: Does this align with my top three values?
- At the team level: Does this way of working reflect what we stand for?
- At the organisational level: Does this strategy honour our cultural cornerstones?
Use them in feedback and culture
As Patrick Lencioni says, values matter when lived out loud.
- Leaders can recognise colleagues who embody them.
- Teams can call each other in when behaviours drift.
- Organisations can hire, promote, and reward based on real values — not just results.
Balance values in tension
- Values sometimes collide — growth versus stability, speed versus quality. Great leaders, teams, and organisations don’t ignore these tensions; they navigate them consciously.

Living Your Values Beyond Work

Values shape every domain—including how we love and relate at home.

💡 If “kindness” matters, how do you show it in daily conversations, even when tired?

💡 If “freedom” drives you, what micro-moments of autonomy can you create, despite heavy responsibility?

Alignment across life, not just at work, unlocks authentic energy.

Case Story: From Stuck to Aligned

A recent client—a founder in tech—felt her calendar contradicted her values of courage and connection.

Together, we created shifts:

Blocking regular time for genuine connection
Practising daily, imperfect acts of courage in leadership meetings

The outcome? More impact at work, more presence at home.

Try This: Applying Your Values

Choose one value a week and ask: How will I live this value today?
Reflect every Friday: When was I aligned? Where did I drift?
Anchor your values with a token, word, or song.
Invite feedback: Ask colleagues or loved ones when they see you living (or straying from) your values.

Final Reflection

Naming your values is only the beginning. Real transformation comes when you live them in actions, decisions, and relationships—fuelling clarity, resilience, and genuine connection.

When you lead from your values, your brain works better, your leadership feels lighter, and your impact grows.

👉 What might it look like to truly live your values this week—in leadership, and in life?

If you, your team, or your organisation are navigating change and want to lead with clarity, purpose, and presence, I’d be delighted to support you. You can book a complimentary discovery call here: Schedule time with me.