By Dane Groeneveld, CEO of LEAD3R & Host of The Future of Teamwork Podcast
Every team benefits from pausing long enough to ask, “What really guides us around here?”
Not the aspirational language. Not the marketing lines. The real values — the ones that show up when decisions need to be made.
Recently, we held a conversation on The Future of Teamwork with exactly that purpose. No agenda beyond uncovering the values that have been steering us from the beginning. It wasn’t about process or workflow. It was about naming what already existed beneath the surface.
And taking that time reminded me just how often leaders skip this step — not because they don’t care, but because the pace of work seduces us into trading reflection for efficiency.
Is it not time we created more space for these conversations?
Owning the Decisions That Reveal Who We Are
When we looked closely at our body of work — the episodes we aired, the ones we didn’t, the risks we took, the calls that didn’t feel right — the patterns were clear.
For example, we made the decision not to release an episode because it carried a tone that didn’t align with how we believe people should be treated. Nothing dramatic occurred, but it was a moment that told us more about our values than any workshop could.
Values aren’t theory. They’re the quiet “yes” and “no” that shape how a team moves through uncertainty.
And in almost every case, the lesson was the same: Fix the system. Respect the human.
It’s remarkable how many leadership challenges become simpler when you hold that principle steady.
Curiosity: The Value That Keeps Us Honest
One thing we surfaced as a team was how often assumptions creep into our work. We think we know. We’ve been here before. We recognize the pattern.
But assumptions shrink perspective, and over time they shrink teams.
Curiosity, on the other hand, widens the field. It slows the moment just enough to get it right.
Alicia McCraw, PhD, reflected on this openly — how asking one more question might soften tension, open new insight, or reveal something we hadn’t considered. It’s a small shift, but a meaningful one.
In a world that rewards speed, curiosity is becoming a competitive advantage.
The gap between question and answer is shrinking — and leaders must work to widen it again.
Humanity at the Center of Hard Calls
Across acquisitions, transformations, and fast-growing environments, I’ve seen the same truth repeat itself: teams perform better when their leaders hold humanity at the center of every decision.
When we “double down on the human,” conversations become clearer. Expectations become fairer. And people feel permission to contribute at their best.
This isn’t softness. It’s steady leadership.
People want straight answers without being diminished. They want direction without losing dignity. And they want to trust that the team is aligned on why decisions are made.
Leadership is a privilege because our tone echoes longer than our intent. Our clarity becomes part of someone else’s confidence. Our restraint becomes part of someone else’s safety.
If this reflection resonates and you’re exploring how to make values usable, not just inspirational, we’ve expanded on this idea in a companion piece by LEAD3R’s David Bumby, A Values Exercise That Make Decisions Clearer: A 90-Minute Sprint for Busy Teams. It offers a simple, practical sprint for teams who want to turn values into everyday decision-making tools rather than slogans. Click the button below to download your copy today.
Values as an Operating System — Not Aspirations
The values we uncovered weren’t new — they were already there, shaping how we show up:
- Curiosity → Ask before assuming
- Respect → Treat each person as capable and worthy
- Courage → Make the call, even when the path is uncertain
- System thinking → Design environments where people can succeed
When these principles are present, teams feel grounded. They know how decisions get made and what we stand for in critical moments.
So the real leadership question becomes: What values are actually steering my choices when the pressure is on?
A Closing Reflection
I don’t share this as a finished framework — but as an honest snapshot of a team willing to examine itself. That alone is something I’m grateful for.
If you haven’t stopped lately to ask your own team what values are truly guiding you, consider creating the space. You might be surprised by the clarity that emerges when people feel safe enough to tell the truth.
Values are not a performance.
They’re the habits we lean on when no one is watching.
As we continue navigating an uncertain future, let’s stay grounded, stay curious, and stay human — even when the stakes rise.
Let’s keep exploring this — together.
BONUS Episode 167: How to Discover Your Team’s Values with David Bumby
You can listen to the entire podcast here!
