An essential component of leadership is to articulate and exemplify the organization's core values. These values must be clear, compelling, and repeated. The leader must both "walk the talk" and inspire his/her colleagues within the organization to also live these values. Values are at the core of individual, group or organizational identity. Values are relatively enduring conceptions or judgments about what is considered to be important to an organization. Agreement between personal and organizational values result in shared values which constitute the benchmarking of a successful business practice.
Thinking We, Not I Leadership today is a full contact sport and as people’s plates are overflowing, leaders are doing …show more content…
These values define the moral compass. As a future leader I know the ethical value of “true north" of my compass. It is the difference between right and wrong and having a deep sense of the right thing to do. Without a moral compass, we as future leaders will make mistakes. While developing our core values is crucial, integrity is the one value that is required in every leader. Integrity is not just the absence of lying, but telling the whole truth, as painful as it may be. Without complete integrity in our interactions, trust will be lost and if no trust can be gained why would anyone ever want to follow. Having everyone on the same page when it comes to operating principles (values) ensures consistency in words and deeds for everyone, boosting in turn not just individual credibility but organizational reputation (ibid, 2012, p.67). In recent years, leaders have evolved from maximizing the physical output of the worker to engaging the minds of the employees. I believe to excel in today’s business environment; great leaders must engage the minds and hearts of the employee(s) through a sense of purpose. Believing in this concept results in a deeper purpose and the result will vastly improve. This will become the company's competitive advantage. Leaders who encourage the heart are open, share themselves fully and are genuinely interested in the picture as a whole. Igniting the soul within, achieves greatness far beyond the