It sounds almost redundant, but it’s not as obvious as it sounds.

When we think of leadership, we picture someone who inspires, like a captain at the helm, giving clear direction while the crew follows in sync. Everyone’s in the same boat (pun intended). For that boat to reach its destination, everyone must work together, moving in the same direction, each person doing their part. 

But imagine if the captain isn’t clear.

Imagine if the captain hesitates or is lost about where they’re going.

Probably at the bottom of the ocean somewhere.

What does a captain and his boat have to do with you? The boat is your organization and you, as its “leader”, is the captain.

Your mission is your organization’s strategy.

Your business plan is your map.

What informs that strategy?  Values of the organization, and of the individuals, like yourself, who sit at the top of the pyramid.

A disorganized or disharmonious strategy results in confusion. Misalignment. Sometimes, even mutiny.

But a cohesive leadership team, one that’s clearly on the same mission, moves differently. The direction is clear. The tone is aligned. They’re led by shared values, and that creates harmony between internal culture and external promises.

Whether they see themselves as leaders or not, employees, like the crew, looks to you and other members of senior management as their captain. Their compass.

Your values become your word. Without your word, there is no trust, and there’s enough scientific research that talks about what happens when your employees lack trust in the organization and its leadership team.

This is value-based leadership.

You do what you say you’ll do.

And what you say you’ll do is guided by your values, even when others don’t agree.

Even when it’s inconvenient.
Even when it costs you more.

Values define you and your organization. 

Leadership without values isn’t leadership at all…it’s just control.