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

THE ABILITY TO CHANGE COURSE?

As we've discussed throughout the chapter, the leader needs to maintain a balanced perspective, particularly from an execution standpoint. A leader must be able to balance all the distractions and still make a decision, such as whether to stay the course or make a midcourse correction. Changing direction when it becomes necessary can only be accomplished if the leader stays close enough to what is going on in the company. Once the direction has been set, the leader cannot decide that now is the time to remove herself; she must remain engaged. Changes can hit the competitive landscape, the economy, or the business environment without much warning. Leaders therefore need to be close enough to the business to work with ...