When a team doesn’t have shared values, it’s like setting out on a road trip without a GPS. You’ll make progress, but probably not in the right direction – and you’ll burn a lot of energy getting lost along the way.
Values aren’t meant to be laminated posters on a wall or pretty Zoom backgrounds. They are the principles that shape decisions, guide behaviours, and create consistency in how people work together. In fact, research shows that when team members see real alignment between stated values and actual behaviours, both trust and performance increase significantly.
I once worked with a leadership team who proudly named “integrity” as their core value. It looked great on the website. But in practice, tough conversations were avoided, feedback was sugar-coated, and underperformance was quietly tolerated. The gap between words and actions widened – and so did the cynicism. Trust cracked, the culture became performative, and eventually, results followed suit. The team unraveled not because they lacked capability, but because they lacked congruence.
Deliberate teams close these gaps. They translate values into lived behaviours – in how meetings run, how conflicts are handled, and how success is celebrated. When values and behaviours are aligned, something powerful happens:
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Decisions speed up because the “rules of the game” are clear.
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Conflict becomes constructive because people know the boundaries.
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Trust deepens because everyone knows what to expect.
As Patrick Lencioni reminds us, cultural clarity is the foundation of effective teamwork
Why Leaders Should Care
When values are vague or ignored, teams drift. Leaders spend more time policing issues than progressing goals. But when values are embedded, leaders can delegate confidently, knowing teams will act in alignment because shared principles are clear.
Tips for Leaders
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Name it, model it, reinforce it. Consistency matters more than grand statements.
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Close gaps quickly. Don’t let misaligned behaviours linger.
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Make it practical. Ask, “What does this value look like when deadlines are tight?”
Tips for Teams
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Hold each other accountable. Don’t wait for the leader.
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Call out the good. Reinforce positive behaviours so they stick.
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Check alignment. Pause and ask, “Is this decision true to our values?”
If your team’s values feel more like a Zoom backdrop than a compass, it’s time to reset. Aligning values and behaviours deliberately is the first step to building trust, speed, and consistency.
Ready to see how aligned your team really is?
Take my free Deliberate Teams Diagnostic – it only takes a few minutes and gives you instant insights into where your team is strong and where hidden gaps might be holding you back. 👉 Complete the free Teams Diagnostic here
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Groysberg, B., Lee, J., Price, J., & Cheng, Y.J. (2018). The Leader’s Guide to Corporate Culture. Harvard Business Review.
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Lencioni, P. (2002). The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Jossey-Bass.
