Values-based leadership is a commitment to doing the right thing by making decisions and choices based on values. 1. Leaders “walk the talk” with… Integrity Personal Will Mentoring Balanced Perspective Humility Self-Reflection Servant Leadership 2. Teams reflect the example of the leadership. 3. Values are in the DNA of the organization. Values-based leadership can only … Read more
Humility and Leadership “Sense shines with a double luster when it is set in humility. An able and yet humble man is a jewel worth a kingdom.” William Penn Seems paradoxical, doesn’t it? Why would the best leaders even value humility, much less personify it? Author Gadadhara Pandit Dasa wrote about this paradox in a … Read more
In the US Army, we learned to rely upon a simple 5-Step Risk Assessment process that effectively identified and mitigated strategic, operational, and tactical risk. The process was incorporated into any planning process, from developing a live-fire training exercise, to deploying a force to the Balkans or the Middle East, to planning an attack to defeat an enemy. In the corporate world, we employ the same process every time we conduct strategic planning, open up a new branch of the company, acquire a new business, roll out a new product, stand up a new manufacturing center, open up a new delivery route, or take on a new customer. The process covers lots of ground. How does it work?
Some managers can be great leaders, and conversely, some leaders can be great managers. Occasionally, one can excel in both roles, but this is the exception. In the US Army, managers are staff officers and leaders are commanders. What is the difference?
We can’t count the number of times a CEO has told us, “I’d implement a leadership development program and deliberate strategic planning system to provide focus, but I don’t have time…I’m too busy with daily crisis.”
But the truth is you can’t afford NOT to develop these foundational building blocks of a high performing culture. If you can’t figure out how to do it, your competition certainly will. In our world where business is all about change, culture trumps everything else. So what’s the answer?
When we were young boys, there was no show like “The Lone Ranger” depicting the exploits of Texas Ranger, John Reid. He was who we wanted to be when we grew up – brave, honest, fit – and he had no tolerance for bandits or dishonest people. He and his equally brave and virtuous companion, Tonto, captivated our generation one night a week.
