The Importance of Values-Based Leadership on Culture

Running Head:  THE IMPORTANCE OF VALUES-BASED LEADERSHIP                             1

                                  The Importance of Values-Based Leadership on Culture

Jennifer Davenport

MG440/Complex Organization

Instructor:  Laurence Johansen

February 21, 2015

Park University

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        Organizational values are developed and strengthened primarily through values-based leadership, a relationship between a leader and followers that are based on shared, strongly internalized values that are advocated and acted upon by the leader. (Daft, R. L., 2013, p. 413)  Values-based leadership is so important to the influence of culture because if the right set of values are set by the leader and shared with all members of the organization, this can give each member within your organization a sense of trust and understanding of what is right and wrong.  If you have a leader of an organization that doesn’t follow these values by making inappropriate, unfair decision than he/she will create a very weak culture and his/her employees will be confused of what right and wrong is and what behavior to follow.  As a leader, your employees really reflect the kind of environment you set for them, whether it is a very strong or weak valued-based environment.  Values-based leadership is leading by example.  These values set by the leader become the culture for his/her employees as the correct way to behave and think.  A good example of this is my position as a squad leader in the United States Army.  As the leader of my squad, I set the pace and I control the environment in which my Soldiers conduct their work.  As their leader, it is imperative that I am following the Army values such as loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage and setting the example.  As an organization these values are enforced through my leadership and my decision making within the squad.  Now if I was not to reflect this understood culture, than I would be setting the wrong example to my Soldiers and not be a very influential leader.  To be influential I must follow the values set for the organization.  In any organization if you are in charge and leading others, everything you say or do has an impact on your culture whether good or bad.  As a leader, when you show concern for your employees and help them when they need help and show them that

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you care it creates a positive environment.  By doing this, you build a relationship and your employees will respect you and follow you.  Respecting others as you would want to be respected is also very important in a values-based culture and realizing as a leader that your employees are going to make mistakes.   But when they do make mistakes you don’t automatically fly off the handle and scream and yell and tell them how bad they are because this will just create an unhealthy working environment.   As a leader it is very important to realize it is not about you, it is about who you are leading and shaping.  Whoever you lead reflects the leadership you instill in them.  As a leader, show them what they did wrong, so they can learn from their mistakes.  This behavior that is taught creates a very influential environment for employees to work around and follow.  As a leader it is so important to have a good character which your employees can learn from and grow.  A values-based leader strengthens ethical values by upholding the standards set for the organization as well as ensuring those not upholding to the standards set are held accountable for their actions.