Values-Driven Leadership - and why Alignment is Key to Boost your Performance as a Leader
Leadership is changing. Especially in these post-pandemic era, people are craving more meaning and connection with the work they do. Be that leaders, or team members.
We're all craving a sense of belonging and purpose in what we do.
A study conducted by LinkedIn reveals that 71% of professionals would be willing to take a pay cut to work for a company that shares their values and has a mission they believe in.
This statistic shows the growing importance of aligning personal values with those of the workplace, highlighting how purpose and meaning at work are becoming non-negotiable elements for many in the current job market.
As a leader, it's important to not only have your own personal values, but also to understand the values of your team. This will allow you to create a culture that aligns with those values and promotes a sense of unity and collaboration within the team.
Values-driven leadership recognises this, and puts that sense of alignment between your core values as a leader, and your team's and company's values, at the heart of your success.
Understanding values-driven leadership
The concept of values-driven leadership centres on personal and organisational values, intertwining them closely with the actions and decisions leaders make. It is a mode of leadership that respects and incorporates the values, beliefs, and principles of leaders into their professional roles. Consider the implications: an environmentally conscious leader leading her company's sustainability initiative or a leader with a value for community involving the workforce in charitable work. Evident in every move, values align the leader with purpose, guiding them towards a more meaningful and effective leadership style.
“Leadership is not just about what you can do or accomplish; it’s deeply grounded in who you are and what you believe. The most effective leaders don’t just know their values; they live them out in every decision they make.”
Leaders who operate from a values-driven standpoint understand that their every decision and action sends a message. If those messages are in line with principles that have been openly embraced, they can rally support and create a culture of trust and higher performance. On the flip side, leaders who ignore or contradict their stated values risk eroding the foundation of their leadership and the organisational culture as a whole.
The power of alignment
Alignment is the invisible thread that connects your actions as a leader with what you believe deep down. Without alignment, you will constantly feel like you're doing things that "don't feel right". We've been there, believe me.
Why does alignment matter?
When your personal values and those of the organisation are in sync, you work with an intrinsic motivation that you never have to question or hesitate about. Your work feels more meaningful, and as a result, your performance and your engagement are in a better place. This leads us to a fundamental question for leaders, "Are your personal values aligned with the company's vision?"
A recent study by the Corporate Executive Board underscores the significant impact alignment can have on leadership retention. The study found that 40% of leaders surveyed have considered leaving their positions due to a perceived misalignment between their personal values and those of their organisation.
Alignment isn't a nice to have, it's key for you as a leader to feel like what you're doing is contributing to something bigger that you actually believe in.
What happens when you're aligned as a leader?
When your personal values as a leader and your company's values align, magic happens.
You make better decisions
When you act within your value system as a leader, you filter decisions through moral and ethical filters you actually believe in. You end up making decisions faster because you don't have to second guess yourself. And your decisions will feel stronger, and give you the conviction to follow through with actions.
“To achieve goals you’ve never achieved before, you need to start doing things you’ve never done before.”
This encapsulates the essence of alignment in leadership. When leaders act in line with their values, they venture into uncharted territory with more confidence.
You, and your team, will feel more productive and motivated
Aligned leadership inspires.
It fuels a sense of purpose and belonging among employees who see the values they hold themselves mirrored in the strategic direction of the company.
This emotional connection within your team, and within the wider company, translates into a more engaged, motivated workforce that works with passion and dedication.
“When both leader and organization values are in alignment, businesses experience 50% higher productivity.”
The company's culture will feel stronger and more cohesive
An organisation’s culture is the sum of its people's values.
People are increasingly looking for workplaces that reflect their personal values, and leadership alignment becomes a powerful tool in attracting and retaining top talent.
When leaders set an example by aligning their actions and decisions with these shared values, they reinforce a culture that celebrates those values, leading to a more cohesive and productive environment.
“Culture is the way in which we get work done, but often, when it’s not working, it’s like an anchor—we feel it dragging us down, but we can’t see it or describe it.”
3 Steps to Building Alignment Within Yourself and With Your Team & Company
Creating alignment is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. As humans, we are constantly changing. And the organisations we operate within are doing the same thing.
If you're looking to build more alignment for yourself and for your team and company, here's 3 steps you can follow:
1.Do a Personal Values Assessment
It's challenging to align your personal values with your team's or your company's without knowing what they are. A Personal Values Assessment is a great first step to figure out what matters most to you as a person. Here are some questions that could help you identify your core values:
Think back to a moment in your life when you felt truly happy and fulfilled. What did you value in that moment?
Recall a time when you faced a significant challenge. What values helped you persevere?
Consider a situation where you had to make a difficult decision. What criteria did you use to make your choice?
Who are the people in your life that you most admire? What qualities or values do they embody that you resonate with?
What are your aspirations for the future, both personally and professionally? What values are reflected in these goals?
2.Get Your Team to Do a Shared Values Exercise
Collaborative value-finding exercises can be immensely valuable. When facilitated correctly, they encourage open discussions, reveal common values, and highlight areas where the team's and organisation's values may diverge, prompting a realignment if needed.
Once you have those shared values, you'll be able to put them into practice by discussing:
What specific actions can we take to embody our shared values in our daily work?
How can our team's objectives for the quarter reflect our shared values?
In what ways can we support each other in living out these values within the team and in interactions with other departments?
Can we identify any current practices or strategies that are not in alignment with our values? How can we adjust them?
How will we measure success in integrating these values into our work culture and outcomes?
3.Lead by Example
Actions speak louder than words, especially in the realm of leadership. Lead by embodying the values you and your team align on - and the rest of the organisation will notice.
To model values in everyday work, you can:
Reference your values openly and regularly with your team
Acknowledge and reward value-aligned behaviours in your team whenever possible
Make values-based decisions, even when they're hard!
Incorporate values in the way you and your team's performance are measured
Regularly review and feedback on how you're collectively doing against your values
Conclusion
Values-driven leadership is not a trend; it's the future of successful, sustainable leadership.
By understanding and leveraging the power of value alignment, we can transform the way we lead, the way our teams work, and the very fabric of our organisations.
Are you ready to make the shift towards alignment, and in turn, boost your performance as a leader?
“True belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are.”
This quote is particularly relevant when it comes to values-driven leadership. By staying true to our authentic selves and aligning our actions with our values, we foster a culture of belonging and integrity.
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