One of the greatest failures a leader can be guilty of is not knowing why they lead. Before leaders can become inspiring and motivating examples to others, they must clarify who they are as a leader, and why they chose to put themselves into a leadership role.
This is an exercise of reaching deep inside yourself to ask two overarching questions:
What are my values?
Am I leading from my values?
Values-based leadership seeks to inspire and motivate others to pursue what matters most. Although the focus is on others, values-based leadership starts with the leader, according to Harry Kraemer, author of Your 168: Finding Purpose and Satisfaction in a Values-Based Life, professor at Kellogg School of Management, and former CEO of Baxter.
Values-based leaders must first know their own values–what matters most to them–and then try to live their lives accordingly.
