“Be still and know that I am God.” – Psalms 46:10 (ESV)
When you hear the word “leadership,” what comes to mind?
For many of us, it’s the image of a confident executive standing at the front of the room, with their title in bold letters under their name on LinkedIn. They execute marching orders with clarity and certainty.
But here’s the secret: Titles Don’t Make Leaders – Values Do.
Our world often equates authority with influence. We forget the foundation of true leadership isn’t what you lead, but how and why you lead. Leadership is an inner alignment—anchoring to your God-given values—which gives rise to visionary leadership. This month on the Entrusted to Lead Podcast, we’re diving deep into the idea that values must come before vision. And today, I want to take you further behind that concept.
Titles Change, Values Anchor
I spent nearly three decades serving the U.S. military, working on high-level programs with the defense and intelligence communities. I had the credentials, the clearance, and the corner seat in strategy meetings. But the most meaningful growth in my leadership didn’t come from a change in title. It came when I began to align my leadership with my personal and spiritual values.
Your title may open doors, but your values determine what happens once you walk through them. Titles can be stripped away. Positions can be lost. Jobs change over time. But when you’re grounded in your values, your leadership remains true and strong.
What Are Values, Really?
Values are the non-negotiables that guide your decisions. They are the inner compass that shapes how you lead when no one is watching. They’re not just words on a wall or a page in your business plan—they’re the heartbeat of your leadership style.
Some examples of core leadership values:
- Integrity over image
- People before profit
- Faith over fear
- Precision over perfection
- Rest over burnout
What values anchor your leadership?
Vision Without Values Is Just Noise
Vision is vital. But a vision that isn’t rooted in values will either collapse under pressure or lead people in the wrong direction. If your vision is built on someone else’s expectations, or on ego, or on hustle culture—you’ll quickly find yourself and your team burned out and disillusioned.
Ask yourself: Is the vision I’m pursuing aligned with the life I actually want to live?
One of the biggest traps for leaders is chasing a vision that doesn’t reflect their values. You can end up with influence but no peace, revenue but no joy, followers but no fruit. But when your vision flows from your values, there is alignment. And with alignment comes flow, grace, and longevity.
The Pressure to Perform
Many leaders feel intense pressure to prove their worth. The world says, Show me your metrics. Show me your title. Show me your success. But God says, Cease striving. Know that I am God.
Let that verse sink in for a moment.
This is not a call to complacency—it’s an invitation to inner stillness. It’s a reminder that our power as leaders doesn’t come from pushing harder, but from trusting deeper. From leading with peace, not pressure.
Three Ways to Recenter on Your Values
1. Conduct a Leadership Values Audit – take this quiz!
Ask yourself:
- What values do I say I lead by?
- Where am I living out of alignment?
- What would it look like to recalibrate?
2. Watch Your Decision-Making Patterns
Every decision is a reflection of what you truly value. Are you choosing speed over sustainability? Success over soul-care? Busyness over obedience?
Slow down. Reflect. Make decisions that reflect not just where you want to go, but who you want to be on the way there.
3. Let Your Values Lead You
This may sound a bit unconventional, but here’s the truth: when you lead from your values, your faith and your peace grow. Let God direct the vision so that you can focus on stewarding your values.
The Bottom Line
You are not defined by your resume, your rank, or your revenue. You are defined by the character you cultivate, the peace you carry, and the values you embody.
So, as we launch into this season of leadership conversations, let this be your charge:
- Lead from the inside out.
- Lead from promise, not pressure.
- Lead from values, not vanity.
And if you’re ready to explore what values-based leadership could look like in your business or career, I invite you to schedule a Leadership Coaching Discovery Call. It’s time to get clear, aligned, and rooted.
Because God is not confused about your calling.
Are you ready to stop striving and start leading from within? Let’s get started today!
For more faith-based leadership insights, coaching, and updates on new podcast episodes, subscribe to my newsletter or visit www.danitacummins.com