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Core Values in Leadership

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Abstract
An essential component of leadership is to articulate and exemplify the organization's core values. These values must be clear, compelling, and repeated. The leader must both "walk the talk" and inspire his/her colleagues within the organization to also live these values. Values are at the core of individual, group or organizational identity. Values are relatively enduring conceptions or judgments about what is considered to be important to an organization. Agreement between personal and organizational values result in shared values which constitute the benchmarking of a successful business practice.

Thinking We, Not I Leadership today is a full contact sport and as people’s plates are overflowing, leaders are doing more with less daily. To create a healthy, sustainable organization, there is a need to create a culture where others are motivated to give their discretionary energy. Productivity and success depend on healthy leaders and employees who are not caught up in disruptive behaviors such as blame, victim thinking, excessive control, silo mentality, and internal competition. When such behaviors surface it is necessary to take proactive steps to pinpoint the cause and what must be done to turn the culture around. Re-visiting the organizations mission statement is a good place start. Leaders of healthy, sustainable organizations excel in three activities: 1) clarify goals and expectations; 2) help employees to see how their responsibilities align with and support these goals and expectations; and 3) engage them in making the goals/expectations a reality. These core values represent the heart and soul of an organizations success or failure rate. Shared values are the foundational pillars for building productive and genuine relationships ( Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p.57). If we are not clear on what we want our culture to be and where

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