Leadership in Action: Issues and Observations - The Gap Between Personal and Organizational Values

Seek Alignment

Values are those fundamental core behaviors around which members of an organization naturally align themselves. The leader can create alignment by understanding and communicating the shared meanings within his or her organization. Once the process of communication discussed above is under way, leaders can begin to think about ways to narrow the gaps between organizational and personal values.

One way to begin this process is to encourage dialogue between leaders and organizational members about values. When truly effective dialogue is allowed to occur, the meaning of what is spoken literally passes through everyone who hears it. When dialogue comes naturally and without fear of retribution, it creates trust. And with trust comes ...