Stop skipping the values conversation: Why real alignment starts here

In many teams (especially small businesses and teams) values are an afterthought. They’re listed in the handbook or maybe even written on a wall. This is huge mistake. 

Most teams skip the actual values conversation. They might not do it on purpose, but it happens. Leaders often get lost in the busyness of their work or the tasks at hand. Teams assume the values have been decided or that everything is going fine. 

And that’s a costly mistake.

Values aren’t like the old "set it and forget it" machines of the past. Your teams are vibrant, purpose-driven collections of individuals. To get everyone moving in the same direction, maximizing your time and efforts, leaders need to engage in values discovery and alignment.

Why the Values Conversation Changes Everything

When teams take the time to define what they believe (not just as individuals, but as a collective) they unlock three powerful outcomes:

• Clarity: Decisions become easier and more consistent when everyone knows what matters most.
• Trust: People feel safe, understood, and aligned when they share common ground.
• Purpose: Work feels more meaningful because it’s guided by shared beliefs, not vague expectations.

These aren't just feel-good benefits. The research is clear:

• A 2023 Gallup study found that teams aligned around core values are 4.5x more likely to report high employee engagement and 3.7x more likely to exceed performance goals.
• Deloitte reports that 94% of executives and 88% of employees believe a distinct workplace culture is key to business success—and culture is shaped directly by shared values.

Values Show Up in the Messy Middle

Too often, values are treated as a luxury or a list of words to make things sound nice. It's great to show off your values to customers and they can be great tools in the marketing process. 

But real values don’t live in presentations or marketing materials.

Values show up in the messy middle of work.
​
Values shape how your team:

• Makes hard decisions
• Navigates conflict
• Supports clients
• Builds trust
• Measures success

If your team can’t point to how your values show up in everyday actions, you haven’t really defined them.

Four Questions That Reveal Your Team’s Real Values

In my Team Values Workshop, we go deeper than generic mission statements. We uncover the beliefs that actually shape your team’s work by asking four key questions:

1. What are your personal values?
   Every team member gets an equal say and the team gets to come together around what really matters most. When these values get named, you build respect and alignment.
2. What values sit beneath your team’s goals?
   Why do your team goals matter? Not just to the business, but to the team members living them out every day.
3. What values shape how you work together?
   Think communication, decision-making, and feedback. What’s truly important to your team and its culture?
4. What do your clients value about you?
   Your external reputation is a mirror. It often reveals the unspoken values your team already lives out.

When we see all of these values on the same page or board, your real values begin to surface. These are not just the buzzwords, but the shared beliefs already guiding your work.
It's not about crafting perfect phrases. Instead, it's about identifying and aligning with what actually matters most to your team.

How to Start the Values Conversation (and Make It Stick)

If you’re ready to lead your team into a deeper values conversation, here are four ways to begin:

• Block meaningful time. Don’t try to fit this into a quick meeting. Values discovery takes reflection, and reflection takes time.
  
• Listen for hidden patterns. Pay attention to how people describe your team’s biggest wins and toughest challenges. That’s where your real values often hide.
• Keep the language grounded. Don’t aim for perfection. Terms like “integrity” or “innovation” only matter if your team can define what they mean in your actual work.
• Consider working with a coach. An outside guide can ask deeper questions, surface hidden insights, and help your team create shared meaning faster and more effectively. If you're interested, let's talk.

Purpose Driven Leadership Begins with Shared Beliefs

If you’re leading a team, the values conversation isn’t optional. This is especially true for small businesses who need everyone together and moving in the same direction. Discovering and aligning with values isn't just nice to have, it's the foundation for success.

Are you ready to uncover your team’s real values and build a culture that actually means something?

Let’s talk.

Send me a quick email to start the conversation. 

References:
https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx
https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/About-Deloitte/gx-core-beliefs-and-culture.pdf