Building a Consistent Strategy: Connecting Values, Leadership, and Management
Building a Consistent Strategy: Connecting Values, Leadership, and Management
As a CHRO and coach, I've often found it challenging to combine strategy, values, leadership, management, and continuous learning into a coherent framework. The complexity lies in ensuring that each element supports and reinforces the others. Leadership is not just about driving business performance and the future; it's about embedding core values that guide behavior and decision-making at all levels of the organization. This balancing act is something I’ve explored for years, and Anne Chow’s insights on the Coaching for Leaders podcast provided valuable perspectives. Her approach to integrating values into leadership aligns closely with my journey.
The Foundation of Values in Strategy
Values are not abstract concepts to be discussed in the boardroom and ignored in practice. They must be central to leadership strategy. As Christine Porath explains in her TED Talk, Why Being Respectful to Your Coworkers Is Good for Business, respect is more than a courtesy—it’s a core value that strengthens trust, collaboration, and productivity, directly impacting business performance. This underscores the need to measure, refine, and embody values at every leadership level.
Just as strategy requires regular adjustments based on market conditions, the values underpinning strategy must be reviewed and updated. Continuous learning is essential—not just for leaders, but for the entire organization. Revisiting and refining core values establishes a feedback loop that ensures culture and strategy evolve together.
Leadership and Management: Embodying Values in Action
Leadership goes beyond strategic decisions or providing direction. True leadership means embodying values in actions, conversations, and decisions. It’s not enough to state values—leaders must live them. This is where management plays a critical role. Managers bridge high-level strategy and daily operations. Their ability to model and reinforce values ensures these principles are not just stated but embedded into the organization’s fabric.
Aligning leadership with values requires training, coaching, and mentoring. Leadership training programs provide the foundation, but coaching and mentoring bring lessons to life. One-to-one sessions help executives reflect on how they apply values in daily leadership. This ongoing process of reflection, feedback, and adaptation mirrors the iterative nature of strategy itself.
Continuous Learning and the Iterative Process of Values
Strategy, leadership, and values must function as a continuous learning cycle. As Anne Chow highlights, leaders must revisit their strategies to ensure alignment with evolving business and cultural needs. The same principle applies to values. What worked in the past may not be as effective in the future, requiring leaders to recalibrate. Regular reflection on organizational values, much like strategic reviews, fosters an environment where people feel engaged and motivated.
How a Coach Can Support This Process
A coach helps executives weave personal and organizational values into leadership practices. By providing a space for self-reflection and growth, coaching enables leaders to better embody their values. Whether guiding an executive to strengthen trust, respect, or collaboration within their team, or helping them navigate decisions through the lens of core values, coaching offers crucial insight and feedback for ongoing development.
This process is not about quick fixes but committing to a long-term journey of growth and transformation. Just as companies refine their strategies, leaders must refine their approach to living their values. A coach serves as a valuable partner in this process, ensuring values are not only defined but consistently demonstrated across the organization.