Core Values… A Compass By Which You Lead

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- by Todd Jensen

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If you have been in business any amount of time, by now
you have probably come across a sea of definitions for
leadership, not to mention an ocean of books about this
thing called leadership. But we all know leadership
when we experience it. More importantly, we notice it
when it’s missing.

In business, the purpose of leadership is to inspire
others to follow your vision/direction/dream for your
business. That means getting people to move together
in one direction–the direction that is going to sail
your business successfully. And to do that you need a
compass.

Motivate Your Team With a Strong Set of Core Values

Core values are the compass by which business leaders
motivate their crew. Have you ever heard of the saying,
If you don’t stand for something, you’re liable to
fall for anything? People will not tolerate, much less
respect, someone in a leadership position who will fall
for anything. Leaders know their values and direction.
More importantly, they make a point to give their crew
the chance to steer the business along the chartered
course. In the best businesses, team members are
motivated by the chance to be something greater than
themselves. And the leader gives them that opportunity.

Define Your Core Values

What are your core values? When you started your
business, how did you want it to run? What did you want
to motivate people? Don’t worry about being “wrong” when
you answer these questions. The important thing is to
answer them. Perhaps, respect, open communication and
on-time delivery of service are your core values. For
another business it may be delivering your products at
the lowest cost. The first step to commandeering your
crew is identifying the values by which you and your
team are expected to operate.

Keep Your Actions Consistent with Your Values

Remember that people want integrity in their leaders.
There’s no faster way to create mutiny than to lose the
trust of your followers. If you find yourself having
difficulty abiding by the core values, how will you
convince your team to do the same? The values people
see in you are those you act on, not those you talk
about. Your actions will always be consistent with your
real values, whether or not you are aware of or admit
those values. Your core values should be clearly stated
in your business and strategic plan, important
employee communications and in interviews and reviews.
More importantly, they should be evident in your actions
in everyday communication and interactions with clients,
crew and business partners. If there seems to be a
regular or frequent clash between the stated values and
the behaviors of the people in your organization, it’s
time to assess the values, the leaders and the
business priorities.

Know What Your True Values Are

It’s important as the leader to know yourself well
enough to know what your true values are. If you
discover that you actually value timeliness over
creativity, that’s your prerogative. Just be sure to
change your message to acknowledge it, or you change
your actions so your team does not feel lied to and
frustrated as a result. Frustration is no way to
motivate your team to achieve your vision.

This article brought to you by Todd Jensen, a member
of the Principa Alliance.

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Todd Jensen, “The Profit Engineer”, has helped hundreds of
business owners make their businesses more successful and
profitable. For tips and strategies on how to boost your
business success as well as increase your profits, visit
http://www.theprofitengineer.com or http://www.maxqtc.com
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