Global employee engagement dipped to 21% in 2O24, according to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2025 Report. This drop translates to a significant hit in productivity. We recognized this challenge and conducted a study to investigate the link between personal values, work values, and motivation. Our insights report, Understanding leader values and their influence on motivation, aims to provide information of how to help leaders feel more engaged, motivated, and purposeful.
The study analyzed data from 59O leaders who completed Adeption’s Grow-Perform-Sustain (GPS) assessment. Developed from the research of leadership expert Nick Petrie, the GPS assessment aims to foster both high performance and well-being. One of the most significant findings was how value alignment directly impacts motivation. Leaders who reported a strong alignment between their personal and work values also demonstrated higher average work motivation. This highlights the critical importance of allowing leaders to “live” their personal values in their work environment.
We also identified key values that consistently mattered to leaders. The report provides practical leadership tips for the two most frequently emphasized values:
- Preserve and nurture relationships: Leaders value kindness, compassion, empathy, and positivity.
- Meet social standards: Leaders value acting with integrity, respect, justice, duty, politeness, and ethics.
Organizations can leverage these core values to tailor leadership development programs, better meeting the needs and aspirations of their leaders. For example, programs could focus on relational leadership, promote ethical practices, or gauge and measure the current state of value alignment and motivation.
Download the Insights Series Report to discover more about the relationship between values and motivation at work. Explore practical ideas for building positive relationships and acting conscientiously, essential skills for navigating today’s dynamic and demanding workplace.