Their Values Team: Integrity, Fairness, and Accountable Leadership

PMBOK v8 Definition

Their Values Team refers to the set of moral principles required of all team members, where people demonstrate integrity, honesty, and fairness that guide their decisions, particularly in tough situations. These values form the foundation for accountable leadership, where leaders make decisions focused on the common good, helping to build trust with stakeholders. The key characteristics include integrity, honesty, fairness, self-awareness, respectfulness, humility, and availability.

Why It Matters for the Exam

This concept appears frequently in PMI exam questions testing your understanding of leadership behaviors, team values, and stakeholder trust. Questions typically appear in the "People" domain, focusing on how accountable leaders demonstrate integrity and fairness to build psychological safety and team cohesion. Expect scenario-based questions asking you to identify the correct leadership response when facing ethical dilemmas or team conflicts.

Key Points to Remember (for the exam)

• Core Values Required: Integrity, honesty, and fairness are required of ALL team members, not just leaders
• Accountable Leadership Definition: Being responsible and taking ownership of the project’s target business objectives, actions taken, and decisions made
• Self-Awareness Requirement: Effective leaders must understand their motives, values, and strengths to build relationships and accomplish results
• Servant Leadership Foundation: Respectfulness, humility, and availability form the basis for servant leadership—leaders work FOR the team, supporting needs and removing barriers
• Common Good Focus: Decisions by accountable leaders focus on the common good, building stakeholder trust
• Shared Leadership: Leadership is not exclusive to any role; any team member, stakeholder, or professional may take the leadership seat
• Team Charter Connection: Team values are documented in the team charter, which establishes clear expectations regarding acceptable behavior

Typical PMI Exam Example

A project manager discovers that a key stakeholder has been withholding critical information that could delay the project. The stakeholder claims they were "protecting the team from unnecessary stress." According to PMBOK v8 values, what should the project manager do?

Answer: Demonstrate accountable leadership by addressing the stakeholder with integrity and fairness, explaining that transparency builds trust, and focusing decisions on the common good of the project and all stakeholders.

PMI Exam Traps

• Trap: Thinking values only apply to project managers or leaders Reality: Values are required of ALL team members—everyone demonstrates integrity, honesty, and fairness

• Trap: Confusing "accountable leadership" with "taking blame" Reality: Accountability means taking ownership of objectives, actions, and decisions—not just accepting responsibility for failures

• Trap: Believing leadership is limited to the project manager role Reality: Shared leadership means any team member or stakeholder can demonstrate leadership behaviors at different moments

• Trap: Assuming team values are imposed by the project manager Reality: The team charter works best when the team develops it and contributes to it—values are discovered collectively

Important PMI Connections

Quick Review Questions

1. According to PMBOK v8, which three values are required of all team members in their decision-making, particularly in tough situations?

2. What is the relationship between self-awareness and building relationships according to PMBOK v8?

3. When should a team member or stakeholder take the leadership seat in a project?

4. What happens when team members discuss areas such as codes of conduct, communication, and meeting etiquette?

5. How do accountable leaders focus their decisions to build trust with stakeholders?

PMBOK v8 Reference

Section 3.4 - Be an Accountable Leader (Figure 3-5 and related content on leadership behaviors and values)