1.5 - About University

2.5 V ALUES AND L EADERSHIPInspired by Ken Blanchard, Michael O’Connor, James Kouzes, Barry Posner,Patricia Jones, Larry Kahaner, and James O’Toole.“Values comprise the things that are most important to us. They are the deep-seated, pervasivestandards that influence almost every aspect of our lives: our moral judgements, our responsesto others, our commitments to personal and organizational goals,” say Kouzes and Posnerin their best-seller, The Leadership Challenge. “However silently, values give direction to thehundreds of decisions made at all levels of the organization every day.” The values of an organization’sleaders, particularly senior leaders, form the bedrock of that organization’s culture.This tool provides guidance for clarifying and living your values.The benefits of clarifying organizational values include:✔✔✔✔They encourage and set standards for ethical behavior throughout the organization.They provide a constant guideline or touchstone for decision making, often reducingconflict and stress.They encourage personal effectiveness by creating overarching guidelines about workingwith employees, customers or clients, and other stakeholders.They help attract and retain people who are prepared to support and work within thestated values.The disadvantages of clarifying organizational values include:✘✘Leaders are obligated to model the stated values; leaders must scrupulously behavewithin declared values.They can engender cynicism, unless everyone in the organization is held accountablefor upholding declared values.S TEPS FOR DEFINING AND LEADING WITH EXPLICIT VALUESStep ➊Initiation byseniormanagement➟❑❑❑❑Values work absolutely must be actively supported and lived from the top.There must be a clear rationale, tied to organizational success, for clarifying values.Every leader must be prepared to model the stated values.The process of introduction must be congruent with the values; if you hold that “employeesare our most valued resource,” then employees must be consulted!➟Step ➋Defining andclarifyingvalues➟❑❑❑❑❑❑Involve stakeholders (e.g., leaders, employees, customers, clients, suppliers). Use focusgroups, team meetings, and surveys.The first draft of values should reflect the givens of senior management.Gather information as to what stakeholders currently see as implied values.Gather feedback on givens and proposals for additional values.Analyze the gaps between implied values and desired values.Finalize value statements and publish them, along with operational and measurableindicators of success.SECTION 2 TOOLS FOR BIG-PICTURE THINKING 55