Leadership & Values Learning outcomes • Importance of values • Value based Leadership • Aligning the values to organizational Mission & Vision Value of values - Definition • Important and enduring beliefs or ideals about what is good or desirable and what is not. Value exert major influence on the behavior of an individual and serve as broad guidelines in all situations. Iceberg principle in Leadership Behaviour Importance of Values • Values provide a strong foundation in times of change and uncertainty • Focusing on values can help leaders steer other towards new strategy / Goal / Vision • Respecting different values can help navigate personal and cultural differences • Values can change; and sometimes should Value based Leadership • Values are always used as a basis for a group’s operation • Implicit values are the assumed values of a leader and are open to / subject to misinterpretation • Explicit values are in the organization’s policies, vision and system • Organizational Values: Beliefs and ideas about what kinds of goals members of an organization should pursue and ideas about the appropriate kind or standards of behaviors organizational members should use to achieve these goals Distinguishing values • Personal values: values endorsed by an individual. For example, some people regard family as their most important values, and structure their lives so that they can spend more time with their family. Other people might value success instead, and give less time to their families in order to achieve their goals. • Moral values: values that help determine what is morally right or wrong, e.g. freedom, fairness, equality, etc, well-being. Those which are used to evaluate social institutions are sometimes also known as political values. • Aesthetic values: values associated with the evaluation of artwork or beauty. Categorizing Values • Self enhancement values • Achievement (Pursuit of personal success) • Power (Dominance over others) • Hedonism (Personal Gratification) • Self transcendent values • Benevolence (Concern for immediate others: Include honesty, loyalty, responsibility) • Universalism (Concern for welfare of all people) Determining your core values – Things that… • are most important to you • define your fundamental character • supply meaning to your life and work (within your organization) • influence the decisions you make • Compel you to take a stand • Create an atmosphere where you are most productive Value Alignment • Would people closest you be able to select you top 5 values based on what they know of you and the behaviors you exhibit? • How does your personal value system align with the values of: 1. Your Organization 2. Your Superiors 3. Your Peers 4. Your subordinates
