Why Your Values Must Guide Every Decision You Make

By Dr. Brian D. Wickstrom

When you strip leadership down to its core, one truth becomes clear:
Your values are the only compass you can rely on when the path becomes unclear.

In calm seasons, decisions feel easy. The information is clear, the environment is stable, and the direction is predictable. But leadership is rarely calm for long.

Challenges arise.
Pressure builds.
People disagree.
Information becomes incomplete.
External voices get loud.
Unexpected transitions appear.

In those moments, leaders must decide not just what to do —
but who they want to be.

That’s where values come in.

Values Bring Clarity When Everything Else Feels Uncertain

Leadership often presents scenarios where:

• Both options feel risky

• You don’t have every detail

• Emotions are high

• Stakeholders have competing opinions

• The “easy option” compromises your principles

When clarity fades, values become the anchor.

Values answer questions like:

• What is the right thing to do?

• What aligns with my character?

• What honors my team and my mission?

• What will I be proud of five years from now?

Circumstances shift.
Pressure rises.
Opinions change.

But values stay steady.

Values Protect You From Shortcuts That Lead to Long-Term Problems

Leadership shortcuts are tempting:

• Avoiding confrontation

• Delaying tough decisions

• Choosing silence to avoid conflict

• Doing what’s easiest instead of what’s right

• Making decisions based solely on public perception

• Allowing politics to overshadow principles

But shortcuts inevitably create:

• Culture problems

• Distrust

• Reputational damage

• Team dysfunction

• Strategic drift

Values protect leaders from sacrificing the long-term good for short-term comfort.

Values Create Consistency — and Consistency Builds Trust

Teams don’t need perfect leaders.
They need consistent ones.

Consistency creates predictability.
Predictability creates stability.
Stability creates trust.

When leaders act from their values, teams can trust:

• Decisions will be fair

• Expectations will be clear

• Integrity will be upheld

• People will be respected

• The mission will matter more than ego

Trust isn’t built through big speeches —
it’s built through small, consistent choices.

Values Help You Navigate Criticism With Strength and Grace

Every leader will face criticism — sometimes fair, sometimes not.
Values help you stay grounded in those moments.

When you know who you are:

• You don’t panic when others misinterpret your actions

• You don’t compromise integrity to defend yourself

• You don’t retaliate out of frustration

• You don’t allow noise to dictate your direction

• You don’t lose your sense of purpose

• You stay steady even when emotions run high

Values give you the resilience to manage criticism maturely and respectfully.

Values Improve Decision-Making Under Pressure

High-pressure decisions often come with:

• Limited time

• High stakes

• Conflicting information

• Scrutiny from multiple sides

• Unpredictable outcomes

In these situations, values act as a filter.

For me, the filter has always been:

• Integrity — Do the right thing even when it’s costly?

• Service — Does this support the people I lead?

• Stewardship — Is this wise for the organization long-term?

• Transparency — Am I being honest and clear?

• Family & Faith — Does this align with who I want to be as a husband, father, and person?

When decisions lack a values filter, leaders become reactive instead of principled.

Values Shape the Culture You Leave Behind

Every organization you lead will carry your imprint long after you’re gone.

If your leadership is built on values, you leave behind:

• High trust

• Clear expectations

• Strong communication norms

• Ethical decision-making

• Healthy team relationships

• Long-term stability

People may forget specific decisions, but they never forget:

• How you treated them

• What you stood for

• What you defended

• What you prioritized

• How you led during the toughest moments

Your values become part of the culture.

Values Are the Legacy That Outlives Your Title

Titles are temporary.
Roles change.
Organizations move forward.
But your legacy — the imprint you leave on people — is permanent.

Values shape that legacy.

Long after the job ends, people remember:

• Your integrity

• Your character

• Your fairness

• Your empathy

• Your courage

• Your service

• Your humility

Your values become the story people tell about you.

Conclusion: Let Your Values Lead the Way

Leadership demands strength, clarity, and courage.
But above all, it demands conviction — the conviction to lead with values when it would be easier to lead with convenience.

The leaders who make the greatest impact are the ones who:

• Stay rooted in principles

• Make decisions based on character

• Protect integrity at all costs

• Treat people with dignity

• Remain steady in storms

• Lead with purpose

Values are not just a part of leadership —
they are the foundation of it.

If you stay rooted in your values, you will always know the right direction to go.

Further Reading

• Leadership Through Personal Accountability
https://www.dr-brian-wickstrom.com/leadership-through-personal-accountability

• Ethical Leadership & Organizational Trust
https://www.dr-brian-wickstrom.com/ethical-leadership-accountability

• Executive Leadership Philosophy
https://www.dr-brian-wickstrom.com/executive-leadership-philosophy