“Personal leadership is the process of keeping your vision and values before you and aligning your life to be congruent with them.” -- Stephen Covey

We all hold our values deeply, and they influence every part of our lives: our decisions, our standards, our responses to others and our commitment to personal, professional and organizational goals.

Studies show that when people are clear on their own values and the values of the organization for which they work, they’re far more likely to be committed to the organization. When values are shared with the organization, many important benefits result, including: high levels of loyalty, reduced levels of job stress and tension, pride in the company, commitment to teamwork, strong feelings of personal effectiveness, and consensus about key organizational goals.

A focus on values – how to identify them, talk about them, and live them – is one aspect of our leadership training program, designed to bring about all the benefits mentioned above, and help you to become an even stronger leader.

“Without trust, words become the hollow sound of a wooden gong. With trust, words become life itself.” -- Anonymous

Have you ever had to take direction from someone or give them your support, but then found that their actions weren’t consistent with their words? If so, what did that do to your motivation to follow them, and support their vision or goal?

One of the most important characteristics that people look for in a leader, whether it be in a supervisor, manager or political leader, is trustworthiness. Can they trust you to do what you say you will do? Do they know what your key values are, and do your actions communicate your commitment to those key values?

Again and again, studies show that if you want people to follow you, respect you as a leader or “get on board” with your vision, you have to walk the talk, and do what you say you will do. If you can do that consistently, you’ll find that your team will follow you anywhere, and their productivity, commitment and effectiveness will be exceptional.

Working with our leadership training program can help you get a clearer sense of how you’re perceived by your co-workers when it comes to trust, as well as help you learn how you can maximize that to make leading in your organization effortless.

Phil Ohl is the Principal of The Leader's Edge. As a world-class athlete, performance expert and professional educator, Phil uses his insights and experience to help organizations perform at a higher level.