In today’s fast-paced corporate world, leadership often feels like a series of external demands: hitting targets, managing crises, and keeping teams engaged. However, the most effective leaders don’t just react to the world around them; they act from a centered place of internal conviction.
In a recent interview, leadership expert Aiko Bethea shared a roadmap for how to move beyond performative leadership to a style that is truly authentic. At the heart of this transformation is a simple yet profound shift: determining and living your personal leadership values.
Here is how you can use the Anchored, Aligned, and Accountable framework to find your north star and lead with integrity.
1. Identify Your Core Values (The “Anchored” Phase)
Most of us have a long list of things we value—honesty, hard work, kindness, innovation. But if you have ten top values, you effectively have none. When everything is a priority, nothing is.
Bethea suggests narrowing your focus to just two core values. These are the non-negotiables that define who you are at your best. To find them, ask yourself:
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In moments of high stress, what is the one principle I refuse to compromise on?
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When have I felt most proud of my work? What value was I honoring in that moment?
From Concept to Behavior: Once you’ve identified your values—let’s say Fairness and Courage—you must define what they look like in action. Values are often left as vague concepts, but to lead with them, they must be behavioral. If Fairness is your value, it might mean ensuring every team member has equal access to high-profile projects, rather than just relying on the loudest voices in the room.
2. Check Your Alignment
Alignment is the bridge between who you say you are and how you actually show up. This is where many leaders struggle. We might value Transparency, yet find ourselves withholding information from our teams to avoid difficult conversations.
To test your alignment, perform a values audit of your calendar and your decision-making:
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The Calendar Test: Does your schedule reflect your values? If you value Mentorship, but your calendar is 100% back-to-back operational meetings, you are out of alignment.
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The Decision-Box: When faced with a tough choice, run it through the filter of your two core values. If a decision helps the bottom line but violates your value of Integrity, the aligned choice is to find a different path.
3. Build Systems of Accountability
The final piece of the puzzle is accountability. Leading with values is easy when things are going well; it is incredibly difficult when the stakes are high or when you are under pressure from senior leadership.
Bethea emphasizes that you cannot be your own only judge of accountability. To truly lead authentically, you need:
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Feedback Loops: Create a culture where your team feels safe telling you when your actions don’t match your stated values.
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The Accountability Partner: Find a peer or a coach who can call you out. This person should be someone who knows your two core values and isn’t afraid to ask, “How did that decision reflect your commitment to Courage?”
Why Authentic Leadership Matters Now
The interview highlights a critical truth: employees today are hyper-aware of corporate speak. They can sense when a leader is reading from a script versus when they are leading from their soul. When a leader is anchored in their values, they provide a sense of psychological safety for the entire team. People know what to expect, and they know what their leader stands for.
Leading with authentic values isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being intentional. It’s about recognizing that leadership is not a title you wear, but a practice you inhabit every day. By narrowing your focus to two core values and building the accountability to stick to them, you don’t just become a better manager—you become a leader worth following.
Reflection Question: If you had to pick just two words to define your leadership for the rest of your career, what would they be—and what is one action you took today to prove it?
Your Next Pivot Point
Are you ready to stop checking boxes and start changing systems? The future is inclusive, and you don’t want to be left behind as a future leader. That is why I offer a free allyship training for you and/or your organization by subscribing to our weekly, no-spam newsletter. You can catch new thought leadership in my Allyship in Action podcast interviews, too.