What Matters: Skill or Value?

Published on 02 Sep 2026

Dr. Janice Nga | Professional Fellow

What matters more in leadership: what a person can do, or who that person chooses to be?

In What Matters: Skill or Value?, Dr. Janice Nga challenges the growing emphasis on competencies and leadership skills by examining the equally important role of values, character and trust.

Skills determine capability, but values determine how that capability is used. A highly skilled leader without integrity can create significant risks, while a leader with strong values can build trust, develop others and serve an organisation or community responsibly.

The article offers an important reminder for organisations and aspiring leaders alike: leadership is not simply about competence—it is about character.