This One Act of Courage Completely Shifted My View on Leadership It's not always easy to do the right thing. I've learned a lot of great lessons from leaders, but sometimes the best lessons come from our peers. Here's what one peer did that blew me away and the four insights I had from it.

Years ago, my peers and I were on a conference call with our boss. I suggested that we make a decision in accordance with an HR policy I thought we had. "Amy, I'm not sure where you got that information, but that is not how HR or we are going to handle this," my boss passionately responded, before continuing.

My peer interrupted him. "Amy got that information from me," she interjected. "Amy even asked me if I was sure about it because it didn't sound right to her," she continued. "I've completely misled her, so please blame me for this."

Our boss thanked my peer for her confession and the call moved on. But, I was so stunned that I spent the rest of the call thinking about what she'd done for me. This topic was a frustrating one for our boss and he'd dismissed me sharply, which wasn't typical. It had to be tough to speak up and shift the focus onto herself in that sort of moment, but she'd courageously done it anyway.

Months went by, and I never forgot it. That moment immediately helped me feel more trust in my peer. We often think of trust as something that takes months or years to build, but this act transpired in a matter of seconds. I drew several insights from it.

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1. When people feel safe, they tell the truth

I've been in several professional environments, and not all of them were good. I've worked for organizations where people were chastised (often publicly) for their mistakes. People in these environments often felt they had to be perfect and that was a lot to live up to. I saw numerous instances where people felt the need to hide or sugarcoat the truth because they feared they'd get in trouble. That wasn't inspiring or engaging.

Here, my peer felt enough psychological safety to proactively tell on herself. She didn't fear the repercussions of being honest and I believe that's because of the kind of leadership we'd both received from our boss over the years. He'd made it a habit to show vulnerability and weakness. He'd publicly apologized for his own shortcomings when they occurred and found ways to demonstrate his belief that mistakes and failures shouldn't be avoided, but rather embraced as learning opportunities. We all felt able to be our true selves with him. This moment taught me that people are most honest when they feel accepted and valued as people. Helping others feel that way is the key job of a leader.

2. Sometimes people remember what you say, did and how you made them feel

Maya Angelou is believed to have said: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." I believe people remember all three. I remember feeling supported, respected and inspired by my peer that day. I also remember what she said and did. That's why I'm able to write about it so vividly now.

This moment showed me that what we say and do matters greatly. Leaders are always on stage, especially when we lead large teams or whole companies. We never know who's watching us, but people are often paying close attention. They look to see if our words and actions align. They remember whether or not we keep our commitments and do what we say. They notice if we take accountability when we mess up or simply brush our blunders under the rug. If you want to build trust with others, don't just make people feel good. Focus on what you say and do, too. Align your words and actions with your values and beliefs.

3. The best leaders do what's right for everyone, not just themselves

Great leaders consider their organization first, then their team, then themselves. They don't come into situations from a place of self-interest or greed, but rather, with a spirit of teamwork and community. That day, my peer put her own credibility on the line to protect mine. It certainly would've been easier for her to let that moment roll by and allow others on the call to think I was misinformed and at fault, than to publicly transition the blame to herself. Had she only been thinking of herself, she might've stayed quiet. Instead of thinking about her own ease and comfort, however, she did the right thing for me (and the entire team). She modeled courage, respect and integrity (for all of us). I felt closer to her after that moment. Her willingness to display these values made the entire team stronger.

Related: The Best Leaders Do These 5 Things Every Day

4. Values matter

What led my peer to do the right thing so quickly? I believe her personal values played a major part. That situation happened quickly and without warning, as life often does. In the toughest of situations, it's easy to get caught off guard. When we're put on the spot, we don't always have time to slow things down and think about the best response. Sometimes, the moment requires swift action. I've found that those of us who are most prepared to handle the moments that most test us are those who go through life with a moral compass or a set of personal values. My top six values are accountability, transparency, integrity, curiosity, courage and compassion. Because I know them, it's easy to act in accordance with them. That day, my peer exuded integrity, courage and compassion, and I believe her values guided her to make the decision she did. Because successful people know what their core values are and live by them, they're able to make great choices with little or no notice.

These insights have served me well. I've seen them tested and used repeatedly. When you practice these four things, you're not only bound to be a better leader, but a better human being as well.