The Values-Based Leader

Reflections on Integrity and Leadership

The values-based leader is a traditional, but not outdated, type of leader

When people think about leadership, they often picture the charismatic, visionary type; the person with expansive ideas and ambitious goals.

This person is more likely to be viewed as successful only if he or she achieves these high-minded goals.

But in reality, leaders can come in all shapes and sizes; they are found everywhere from board rooms to classrooms and coaching staffs to country fields.

Winners will often be unique in their distinct roles, outlooks, and approaches.

As such, they are not necessarily ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than others in the same role.

But the values-based leader is not your traditional, charisma-driven leader at all.

It is a more modest model devoid of flashy position titles and this is precisely what makes these leaders special.

Admiral William H. McRaven, the man who directed U.S. Special Operations Command and orchestrated the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, is a perfect example of a values-based leader because he is not only a commander but also an educator and mentor to younger officers in his organization.

Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat. — Winston Churchill

The book “The Mind of the Leader: How to Lead Yourself, Your People, and Your Organization for Extraordinary Results” by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter illustrates the values-based leader.

“The Mind of the Leader” is a book for day-to-day leaders.

It is about mastering your personal skills, being more effective as a businessperson, and establishing healthy relationships with others in your organization.

The book also gives insight on how to manage people effectively and increase productivity among staff members.

The book also features excellent templates to start an organization and guide its leaders towards success.

The values-based leader approaches his role with modesty and authority; The values-based leader knows that he can only do so much, so the rest is left to be done by those who follow him.

The values-based leader knows that he or she is part of a chain of command, who should listen to the guidance of their superiors and not just do what they think is best for themselves.

What does a leader do? Well, he or she doesn’t do what everyone else does; instead, he or she thinks about things in a new and different way.

He or she seeks to find the true perspectives and the best solutions for people and organizations.

Most importantly, a leader realizes that the best way to motivate others is with sincere compassion.

Moreover, the values-based leader understands that it is what you do and what you say that is most important.

The underlying message of this kind of leader is clearly,

“I don’t want to be all about me…”.

He or she demonstrates that qualities such as character and competency can be measured and embodied in a way people will trust.

That is not to say that everything is downplayed in favor of character; instead, these leaders make it clear how much they value their employees’ contributions.

Highly successful leaders value the time and effort put in by their employees, whether this includes long hours at the office or late nights at home.

Values-based leaders will make all that matter when it comes to what is truly important.

Here are some important qualities of a values-based leader;

• He or she makes it clear that their goals are not only monetary but also ethical. If a product has harmful substances in it, for example, one would not want to buy that product.
• He or she always states the facts. A values-based leader will not tell someone that he or she is doing something unethical if it is not true. Even if the facts aren’t completely accurate, if something seems a little off, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Values-based leaders know exactly what others think of them and how they should be treated in their work environment. They know that if someone is not acting the way he or she should, then he or she will be let go.
• Values-based leaders realize why they are the way they are, while also developing and possessing a great sense of humility and selflessness.

They do not put themselves into situations in which they believe they can’t gain anything; instead, a values-based leader views his or herself as one little cog in the wheel of progress.

• They do not look for shortcuts and rely on other people to make things happen for them.

In fact, they encourage others to let their ideas know so that things can move forward accordingly.

A values-based leader does not need to be the smartest person in the room; he or she will encourage others to share their knowledge with him or her, while also demonstrating that they have time to listen and learn.

Why Integrity Is Crucial To Leadership

What does a person’s integrity mean in the context of leadership? By definition, integrity is firm adherence to moral and ethical principles.

For leaders, this means ensuring that the principles of their organization are adhered to by all, from managers and staff through to customers and investors.

A values-based leader knows that ethics are crucial; they are the core of what makes an organization run smoothly.

• The values-based leader can be summarized as a person who is humble and confident, trustworthy, creative and dynamic, honest and ethical.

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear not absence of fear. — Mark Twain

• A values-based leader is one who follows these qualities and disciplines. He or she leads with confidence and a positive attitude.
• A values-based leader will learn from his or her mistakes, and he or she will always keep a positive outlook regardless of the challenges he or she faces in his or her everyday life.

There are many qualities that are held to be an important aspect of a good leader.

The qualities of a good leader vary depending on the situation and on the need of the organization that the individual is currently in.

However, one quality that always seems to be on the top of this list is the value of a leader’s integrity.

It is not only important for leaders to be honest with others but it is equally important that they keep this same honesty within themselves and within their own personal lives.

A values-based leader is one who demonstrates a high level of self-awareness and knows how to manifest this self-awareness into behavior in such a way that he or she can positively influence the people around him or her.

Leaders in their personal lives should have a good understanding of who they are as well as their strengths, weaknesses, and flaws; This allows a values-based leader to be in tune with his or her true character before he or she can effectively have an impact on others.

Being a values-based leader is about being aware of one’s own motivations and intentions in relation to others, good or bad.

In order for leaders to have the highest level of integrity possible, they should not only stay true to themselves but also stay continually connected with their emotions.

Values-based leaders are aware of their fears, frustrations, as well as their unwavering beliefs which guide them towards reaching their goals.

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J.D Rehbein-Wrightstein founder of The Savytech articles is a writer who loves to help people discover their potential as well as their true purpose in life. He inspires and educates people on living an awesome life with inspiring articles. Connect with him on Twitter!