Values The Rudder For Successful Leadership Navigation In Making Good Choices And Tough Decisions


by Leanne Hoagland-Smith - Date: 2007-02-14 - Word Count: 381 Share This!

Any day we can pick up the paper, listen to the radio or see someone on television and learn about people whose core values have brought their behaviors to local, state or national attention. From the corrupt officials in Corporate America to the equally corrupted politicians, citizens from school age children to adults can see the affect of poor leadership when positive values or ethics are not present.

Values are the rudder for successfully navigating the challenges or rocks that we face as leaders when sailing through the various business seas. These non-negotiable rules of conduct keep us on course, our direction steady and focused even when the waves become turbulent and may appear to momentarily capsize our vessel.

As people navigate the issues of making good choices and tough decisions, what is so interesting is that very few identify the lack of value or ethics as the real problem especially those in leadership roles. Excuses are made from "It was over 20 years ago" to "that depends upon how you define is." For if we acknowledge that values are the real issue, we are being judgmental and in America, making judgements are viewed as breaking some unwritten commandment.

When values are present, so are judgements along with personal responsibility and accountability. Without clear and articulated positive core values, we attempt to navigate the easy way around the storm and compromise our own personal integrity.

What I know as an executive coach is that companies who do not proudly display their company's values statement both on their walls and through the daily behaviors of all shareholders are the first companies to lose loyal customers and market share. Also these same companies, in many cases, are the first ones to complain about having bad business results.

The founding fathers of the United States understood the importance of having a strong rudder or values when crafting the Declaration of Independence in their efforts to navigate the successful creation of a young country. If your business has not invested the time to construct a company's values statement, now is the time to take such action. If you have a core values statement, take the time to review it as well as your overall strategic plan. Of course, if you want to answer to the rocks, the choice is yours.


Related Tags: value, leadership, leader, strategic plan, executive coach, ethic, core value, good choice, tough decision

Leanne Hoagland-Smith, M.S. is a business coach and executive coach with offices in Indianapolis and near Chicago. She writes, speaks and coaches people in businesses to quickly double or triple results through the creation of an executable strategic plan along with the necessary leadership skills "to pull it off."

One quick question, if you could secure one new client or breakthrough that one roadblock holding you back from success, what would that mean to you? Then, take a risk and give me, Leanne, a call at 219.759.5601 to experience incredible results.

Visit http://www.processspecialist.com/ and explore everything from free articles to connecting with Leanne.

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