Forget about official policies and statements regarding values if leaders aren't walking the talk

I see many organizational culture initiatives predominantly focused on redefining core values and adjusting the reward system. That's all good and necessary. 

However, the desired culture will never be fully embedded unless leaders embody it through their actions and behaviors. Forget about official policies and statements regarding values if leaders aren't walking the talk. Leaders must act as role models so that everyone can understand the core values and how they should be practiced in day-to-day work. 

On top of that, they should explicitly incorporate these values into everyday conversations and consistently use them as a foundation for decision-making.