In the context of competitive advantage, the link between an organization’s core values and the initiative to make leadership an integral part of its organizational strategy is imperative. Starting at the micro level, an individual’s core values is what defines his leadership. It is not something that is random but very specific and deliberate. How an individual sustains these core values is analogous to how a successful (or to use Mr. Collins words, “great”) companies sustain their competitive advantage.
The impending Leadership vacuum prevalent in today’s businesses is a serious concern. Combine this with the poor ethical decisions of these leaders and you have a direct conflict with the core values that an organization is founded on and whose people believe in.
From an intra personal perspective, ethics is one of my core values. Although there is no tangible benefit that comes from just being “ethical” it is almost an assumed value in today’s business and the intangible benefits are proven to be high. Other core values such as respect, moral integrity, hard work and discipline are what I intend to practice and exhibit. It is what I want to define me and what I am measured against.
If you want to set an example for your ‘followers’ as a leader, you have to enforce these values upon yourself first, gain total confidence in self-management and impart those values in a convincing way. Leadership can be defined at various levels and certainly warrants different styles for different circumstances, but I don’t believe the core values should change. They are the foundation of what defines you as a leader and at a personal level, an individual.
We all know the saying “One bad apple can spoil an entire basket of good apples”. But as a Level 5 leader, all of the evidence in the readings we have read so far proves that a single good apple could change a bunch of bad apples! And what makes it happen is core values and the effective implementation and exhibition of it.
Ruchi,
Seriously, stop being so insightful… you are making my blog look like crap! The core values that you intend to practice and exhibit are great. I was gathering feedback on the meaning of “Leadership” from a few of the people in my company that I look at as leaders (or people who are leaders in training that I respect) and I found one response that I think piggybacks on some thoughts in your blog. You mention the leadership vacuum and how the individuals that we consider leaders today continue to make decisions that are against core values of the company and at times down right unethical. Having these people in the position of “leadership” and seeing these decisions being made, has a toll on those who are “coming up through the ranks”… in essense spoiling the apples. One of my interviews brought to the table that it takes “courage to be an authentic leader”. To not give in to what others around you are doing, even in some cases when the person could be someone you looked up to, that takes courage. I thought that was a really nice way of putting that and thought… so should everyone who intends on sticking to their values have “courage” as a core value?
Comment by missstacy14 — February 18, 2008 @ 10:24 pm