As we gather for Thanksgiving and reflect on what matters most, it’s the perfect time to reconnect with our core values and leadership purpose. Whether you’re addressing a team or sharing a meal with family, the energy behind your words can make all the difference. That’s why in my Lead With Your Voice keynote and executive coaching sessions, I emphasize the E in my ACE Model—Energy—as a core leadership tool. A study from the University of California found that affirming your core values before a high-stakes conversation can reduce stress and improve performance. Grounding yourself in your values gives you the clarity, confidence, and calm to speak up—even when you’re fatigued or overwhelmed. In this post, I’ll share how to create a simple but powerful tool: your Core Value Statement, which helps you lead with purpose, boost your energy, and stay centered in times of chaos.
As we prepare for Thanksgiving in the United States, it’s the perfect time to recognize the power of connecting with our values before we speak – whether to our teams or to our families.
Why? Because our core values drive our confidence and our energy.
In my Lead With Your Voice keynotes, I discuss the importance of a leader’s energy as a core driver of their communication skills. It’s the E component of my ACE Model of Leadership Communication (together with Authenticity and Clarity).
I hear it again and again in the questions following my keynote: how do you maintain your best energy when speaking up, especially when you’re fatigued or overwhelmed?
Why Core Values Drive Leadership Energy
A fascinating study by the University of California demonstrated that people were less stressed before a speech or presentation when they affirmed their core values.
Affirming their values was more important than a generalized “you’ll do great!” pep talk. Reminding themselves who they were – at their best – reduced their stress and made them more effective.
How to Use a Core Value Statement Before You Speak
Here’s how you can benefit from this research, using an exercise I created called the Core Value Statement. I often use this exercise with my executive advisory clients.
Write your Core Value Statement
- Make a list of your core values; what guides you in your work? At home? Write them down. Maybe they include resilience, service, or equality.
- Choose one that really resonates with you right now.
- Write a paragraph about how you live that value every day.
Use your Core Value Statement
- Once you have your core value statement, read it out loud. Let it ground you in a sense of purpose.
- Read it to yourself right before you deliver an important meeting or presentation – whether in person or virtual
- Read it when you are tired and struggling and need to keep your energy up.
The ACE Model for Leadership Communication: Authenticity, Clarity, & Energy
Our core values drive our confidence and our energy. Energy is the “E” in my ACE model of communication, and it’s where your values, your intention, and your presence all come together.
In this short video, I walk through the ACE framework and share how you can bring more alignment, clarity, and positive energy to every conversation—especially during a busy holiday season.
Watch the ACE walkthrough here →
With so much negativity surrounding us, finding our own “personal path through the chaos” becomes paramount, as my negotiation professor Brian Mandell at the Harvard Kennedy School used to say.
Your core value statement will help you harness your most powerful energy and become the leader you want to be.
For all those who celebrate, wishing you and your families a very happy Thanksgiving. Amidst the uncertainty and negativity in the world, we still have so much to be grateful for.
~ Allison
P.S. A recent client used a similar exercise with her leadership team during an offsite. If you’d like to discuss how you can use this exercise to build trust and increase productivity, let’s talk. Fill out our contact form and share what you’re working on. Our team will be in touch within 24 hours.