Align Your Actions with Shared Values "Actions speak louder than words" is a common refrain. So it is with your leadership actions. The extent to which your actions are consistent with your words determines your personal credibility. The extent to which your actions are consistent with shared values determines your leadership credibility. Now that you have a clearer sense of shared values, you need to make sure there's alignment between words and deeds. As project leader, what can you do to demonstrate the importance of the shared values to the team members, to colleagues, and to management? Brainstorm two or three actions you can take to show your commitment to each value. Actions might include: How you spend your time. The actual allocation of your time to key values sends a mes- sage. For example, if creativity is on the list of principles important to the project, then you need to spend some of your own time in pursuit of creativity. It might be by visit- ing a product design firm to see how they stimulate creativity, or it might be by partic- ipating in a team brainstorming session