9 Leaders Share Core Values that Guide Them
Unveiling the pillars of leadership, this article delves into the core values that top industry...
9 min read
Taking on a leadership role can be a life-changing experience. To support you on this journey, we've collected insights from C-suite executives and executive coaches. From the importance of leading by example to cultivating a growth mindset, explore the diverse perspectives of eleven experts on navigating your new executive path.
- Lead by Example
- Establish Trust with Your Team
- Listen More, Talk Less
- Embrace Active Listening
- Inspire Belief and Earn Respect
- Build Genuine Connections with Your Team
- Practice Empathy
- Prioritize Relationship Building
- Make Tough Decisions Responsibly
- Get Curious and Develop Leadership Skills
- Cultivate a Growth Mindset
Lead by Example
Lead by example, and your team will follow in your footsteps. No matter what type of leadership role you are in, your employees will not only listen to your words but also observe your actions. Consistency is key, especially when it comes to you following your own advice and rules. If it's expected of your team to disconnect while on vacation or to follow deadlines, then you should do the same. This will earn your workers' respect and leave a positive, lasting impression.
Benjamin Farber, President, Bristol Associates, Inc.
Establish Trust with Your Team
Start all your new relationships based on trust. Do not go into a new team or organization and tell them, "Here is how you earn my trust." If they are not trustworthy, why were they hired?
Instead, tell your new team or organization, "You have my trust. Here is how you can lose it." Then list the trust-busting things that are not acceptable to you, such as blaming others, not sharing information, hiding mistakes, not coming to you soon enough when a project or task is beyond their capabilities, etc.
Steven Howard, Leadership Mentor | Author, Caliente Leadership
Listen More, Talk Less
You want to listen more than you talk when starting a new role. One of the biggest mistakes leaders make, particularly when stepping into executive roles for the first time, is assuming that they must be the experts in every meeting. The truth is that you're much more valuable when you learn to ask the right questions.In your first few months in a leadership role, try to challenge yourself to only ask questions in meetings. Of course, there will be times when you need to share updates and insights, as well as make decisions; however, you really want to practice flexing your listening and influencing muscles in your early days.
Dr. Kyle Elliott, Founder & Tech Career Coach, CaffeinatedKyle.com
Embrace Active Listening
Active listening is one of the most important skills for an executive, particularly when assuming a new role. Your goal in your first 30 days is to understand your team's strengths, challenges, and culture before implementing any changes.Building trust and understanding the dynamics of the organization will enable you to make more informed decisions and demonstrate humility and emotional intelligence.
Lorraine Rise, Executive Coach, Career UpRising
Inspire Belief and Earn Respect
Remember this: Your role isn't just to lead—it's to inspire belief. People won't follow you because of your title; they'll follow you because they believe in the vision you create and how passionately you bring them into it.Here's the key: Don't aim to be liked; aim to be respected. Leadership isn't a popularity contest—it's about making tough decisions and carrying the weight of responsibility. But in those moments, stay human. Empathy, integrity, and consistency are the traits that build real trust. And trust is your greatest currency as a leader.
Finally, remember that success in leadership isn't about controlling everything; it's about empowering others to thrive. Great leaders don't create followers; they create more leaders.
Alex Shekhtman, CEO & Founder, LBC Mortgage
Build Genuine Connections with Your Team
Focus on building genuine connections and trust with your team. Take the time to meet with each person individually, actively listen to their perspectives, and show that you value their contributions.
Avoid rushing to judgment or making hasty decisions about your team's capabilities. Instead, observe and learn from them for a while before forming any conclusions. By demonstrating humility and a willingness to learn, you'll earn the respect and loyalty of your team, which will ultimately lead to greater influence and success as a leader.
Glen Hellman, Executive Coach, CXO Elevate
Practice Empathy
As a leader, your primary responsibility is to bring out the best in others. Being genuine and caring for your team members fosters respect and builds lasting influence.Leadership isn't about forcing compliance or relying on authority; it's about inspiring people to follow because they believe in the mission and trust you as a leader. Rather than just issuing directives, focus on building influence through empathy and connection.
Leaders with a service mindset—those who genuinely care for their teams and share a clear vision—naturally attract followers. When you actively shape and communicate your narrative, you guide your team toward the outcomes you desire.
Lida Citroën, CEO, LIDA360
Prioritize Relationship Building
When stepping into leadership for the first time, prioritize building strong relationships. Success isn't just about vision and managing tasks—trust and rapport with senior management, peers, and your team are the foundation of effective leadership. Approach your role with confidence, curiosity, and humility to learn from others while sharing your own perspective.Seek mentorship from experienced leaders and learn from their journeys to help anticipate challenges. The best leaders leverage human connection to inspire and motivate others. Cultivating positive relationships sets the stage for long-term success.
Karen Kunkel Young, Executive Career Coach for Creative Leaders, Karen Kunkel Young Coaching
Make Tough Decisions Responsibly
Stepping into a leadership role for the first time, it may be helpful to consider that you will not always be able to be “fair.” That is, you have been elevated to a position with authority that will directly impact the company's success, and this comes with responsibility to the organization. Your decisions, particularly about hiring, promoting, and terminating people, will at some point be perceived by some as unfair; however (absent protected class bias), you have a job to get done. Although you can certainly lead with an ethical approach, you can't always be fair, but you must always get the job done. It took me a year in my first leadership role to recognize how true this is when I had to fire an underperforming pivotal member of my team, someone whom I liked and respected but who, despite being given multiple chances and additional training, was falling short. He was very hurt, and when I let him go, he stated that he thought he had improved. And there it was! His perception of what needed to get done in the role and mine were still not the same by a long shot, and it was not going to change. It was then I realized why he found my decision unfair.
While I sympathized with his point of view, the writing was on the wall. He was not the man for the job, and for our team to move forward, I had to make the tough decision. It was my responsibility to prioritize the company's success over his sense of fairness.
Mary Cioffi, Executive Coach, Mary Cioffi Executive Coaching Services
Get Curious and Develop Leadership Skills
Stepping into leadership for the first time as a new executive? Start by getting curious about the people on your team. Take the time to understand their roles, their expectations of you, and what they need to succeed. Curiosity is the most powerful tool we have to build relationships and trust. To do this, set aside time to meet with each team member individually. Then consider bringing your team together for a kick-off meeting that focuses on team development, getting to know who you are, your intentions as a leader, and your goals for the team and organization. You might even host an “Ask Me Anything” hour to start or end the kick-off meeting!
If you're transitioning into an executive role without prior leadership experience, I highly recommend developing your leadership skills with training. While some leadership qualities may come naturally, essential skills, frameworks, and tools can be learned through functional programs. These will greatly support your growth and effectiveness as a leader.
Van Lai-DuMone, Founder & CEO, Author, worksmART advantage
Cultivate a Growth Mindset
My biggest piece of advice to a new executive stepping into leadership is to be curious and ask questions. You won't know everything, and you're not expected to. Acting like you do, especially in a new environment, is a recipe for disaster. Instead, focus on listening, learning, and understanding your team and the dynamics at play. Embrace a growth mindset and approach challenges with humility—it's the foundation for building trust and leading effectively.
Natalie Micale, Executive Coach & Leadership Consultant, Natalie Micale Coaching & Consulting