From Values to Action: The Four Principles of Values-Based Leadership

CHAPTER 6

TALENT MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

It's all about the people. This seemingly simple statement cannot be overemphasized. Many companies get things in the wrong order. As soon as the values are clearly defined and put in place, as we discussed in Chapter Five, leaders often move immediately into setting the direction for the organization. The thinking goes that once they have the values determined and the strategic direction set, then they can attract the right people to join the team. This approach is backwards.

Once the values are in place, before leaders do anything else, they need to focus on the people. Picking the right people must come before setting the direction. If it's done the other way around, there is a risk ...