“Set the example by aligning actions with shared values”
- Kouzes and Posner in “The Leadership Challenge”
The above statement is the second of ten commitments of leadership. Identifying the core values in life is the most important task we do. I like the concept of possibility thinking and creative juice flowing, but before that comes the homework of figuring out the values that underlie life itself. These values cannot be ignored. They are the key that opens the door to any possibility. For example, There is no real joy outside of faith in God. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. If I remove God from my equation everything becomes temporary and gets old fast. With God, eternity comes into focus and everything gets renewed regularly. I need to align my actions around the key values.
Part of setting that example is to speak about those shared values confidently and enthusiastically and sometimes dramatically. Doing that well will reinforce our position. Asking well-timed questions will provide needed answers. The one who refuses to ask questions because it indicates a lack of knowledge, is in danger of leading others down a wrong path. Of course, it is also essential to make it easy for the one with the answer to reply. For example, did you ever have someone ask your opinion and then argue that your opinion is wrong?
There are those today who will watch you and follow your example. Your actions will show what you value. You might just as well come clean because masking what you really value is impossible over the long run.
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