During the past 20 years I have experienced both valueless and values-based leadership. I have witnessed executive and team meetings where organisational values are skipped annually, if not laughed at. I am also blessed to have experienced executive and team meetings where values and each employee’s “why” are discussed in-depth. Values-based leadership is characterised with better impact and motivation of employees. – Should you want to explore values-based leadership there are three steps to take!
In this blog we will look into leading with Positive Intelligence; what values-based leadership is; three steps to take in values-based leadership; and the benefits there-of.
Lead with Positive Intelligence
Positive Intelligence is a people development framework developed by Chamine, 2012. Based on factor analysis the framework identifies ten root causes which hamper our success with happiness. This can be either in a leadership role; relationships at home and work; stress management and work-life balance; optimising productivity and performance or changing habits and lifestyle.
Each leader ought to start from self-awareness and personal growth in Positive Intelligence. This will result in great improvement in the positive intelligence quotient (PQ) and emotional intelligence quotient (EQ).
Leadership is all about empowering and supporting people toward a common vision or direction.
Read more about mental fitness – the solution for success with happiness.
Values-Based Leadership
Maria Gamb explains that values-based leadership is based on core values setting the foundation of how everyone in a company will engage creating an expectation that the leader always operates for the greater good of all.
The idea is that the leader has a well-developed character that establishes an environment of mutual respect, fairness, and trust, at a minimum.
This leadership style serves as the guiding force to create a healthy company culture. It all starts with the leader.
So, values-based leadership is about identifying employees’ individual values and instilling common organisational values. These values provide a clear direction and a source of motivation for people to put their best foot forward.
Value-based leadership is about walking the talk. Leading by example. Adhering to and promoting the organisational values for greater good.
Being clear about your own and your employees personal core values and further aligning them with organisational ones will help leaders to:
- Communicate and set clear direction
- Create proactive organisational culture
- Provide personal growth opportunities to employees
- Expand opportunities through exploration and innovation
Three Steps to Take
Step 1: Enhance Your Self-awareness and Positive Intelligence
Start from your own personal growth in self-awareness and Positive Intelligence. Identify and define your own core values. And there-after help others to follow.
Step 2: Identify Individual Values and Align Them with Organisational Ones
Engage with your people. Find out what are their key values and principles. Share yours too. See how the individual values are aligned with the organisational ones. Assess whether there is a need for review.
Step 3: Use Positive Intelligence to Influence
Promote the values in support of the mission and vision that you and your organisation have. This applies at all levels. Whether you are leading yourself, a team, a directorate, an entity, a sector, a country, an international or global organisation.
Benefits of Value-Based Leadership
The benefits of values-based leadership in organisations include the following:
- Clear common vision and mission
- Employees take leadership in their own work, are pro-active
- Employees have growth-path that further motivates them
- Exploration and innovation
- Optimal performance and impact
So, promoting common positive principles i.e. values and frameworks with the participation of the people in the process will guide and motivate individuals in the same direction for bigger social and economic impact.
Great leaders have great integrity. They walk the talk.
How does value-based or valueless leadership look in your context?
What are you going to do about it?
Have you already taken some steps?
Have you invested in your own personal growth?
To contact coach Pauliina click here.
Pauliina Mapatha has twenty years of experience in both the government and non-profit sectors and is a certified life coach. She established her own consultancy company in 2006 and has found her passion for supporting individuals and organisations with change, transformation and wellness.
