Making a World-Changing Difference: The Role of Values in Effective Leadership

The Golden Rule is a fundamental ethical principle that teaches treating others as you would like to be treated. It serves as the foundation of good values and is prevalent in all cultures and religions.

Values, in essence, are guiding principles that shape our decisions and behaviors. When these values are inherently good, they invariably yield benefits and never cause harm to oneself or others.

For leaders, success isn't just about scaling the ladder; it's about reaching the summit of good values. This is the real catalyst for world-changing powerful positive change.

Good values always prioritize people. A simple litmus test for determining whether a value is good is whether it values people—all people, at all times, in all situations—without exceptions. If a value values people, then it is positive and worth adopting. Good values invariably align with the golden rule.

Regardless of background, talents, or intelligence, the power to learn, adopt, and practice good values resides within everyone. The key factor that makes the difference with values is choice.

It's the act of choosing that makes transformation possible and leadership is a pivotal element on which everything else hinges.

As John Maxwell often says, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”

Two primary factors drive leadership’s rise: competence and values. No one wants to follow a leader lacking skills, and values are the principles that guide your decisions and actions. Leaders who embody and demonstrate positive values gain the trust and loyalty of others. These positive values empower both leaders and team members to support one another.

Cultures are driven by collective values that shape the collective behaviors. Therefore, when addressing issues, we must target the values that will instigate change.

The Maxwell Leadership Foundation, when assisting countries and communities in their change initiatives, requires top influential leaders to undergo a strategic process. This process involves identifying cultural issues and aligning them with the most significant values to address.

Depending on the cultural issues that the country and communities want to address, one or more of the following values could be relevant.

• Attitude
• Gratitude
• Listening
• Responsibility
• Commitment
• Hope
• Love
• Self-Regulation
• Communication
• Humility
• Perseverance
• Self-Worth
• Courage
• Initiative
• Personal Growth
• Servanthood
• Fairness
• Integrity
• Priorities
• Teachability
• Forgiveness
• Kindness
• Relationships
• Teamwork
• Generosity
• Leadership
• Respect
• Work Ethic

As leaders, we must undergo a strategic process to work on our values and bring about desired positive changes in ourselves. Consider which of these values you'd like to focus on to improve both your life and leadership.

Prioritizing values can significantly enhance a culture, stimulate financial innovation, and promote social impact and inclusion. Transformation in an organization, community, country begins with the personal transformation of its leaders.

Organizations don't transform on their own; the people within them do. Communities evolve in a similar manner, one person at a time, with leaders initiating the change and then inspiring others to join them.

The most critical mission is providing others with the opportunity to dream of a better life and equipping them to live it. The best way to achieve this is to help them identify, embrace, and live good values.

In short, the adoption and practice of good values are integral to effective leadership and personal growth. By valuing people and making conscious choices to live out these values, we, as leaders, can facilitate powerful positive change in our personal lives, organizations, communities, and the world.