Why (shared) values matter in leadership

Yesterday I was reminded about the importance of shared values within a leadership team…and the impact on customers when there is a conflict in values at the top of an organisation.

For a couple of months now, I’ve been running a weekly get-together at a local café, for women who are courageously dealing with multiple challenges in their lives. The couple of hours we spend together offer a bit of respite and an opportunity to relax and have some much needed “me time”

The owner of the café (let’s call him Harry) had, very generously, allowed us to use a small room free of charge and thrown in complementary hot drinks and the odd plate of cakes! From the moment I met him, Harry’s passion for promoting social justice generally and the rights of women specifically, had shone through. He had a clear vision about developing services that would be of value to the local community and was keen to collaborate on projects.

Recently Harry had to travel abroad for personal reasons and his return date is not known. His business partner (I’ll call him Wally - short for Walter) is now actively involved in running the café.

And guess what?

We can't have the room anymore...well not for free anyway.

And we absolutely can't have free drinks.

Why?

And I quote…

“Because we are running a business and not a charity!”

Wow!

What a fine example of a clash of values in the top team!   
    
The incident reminded me that in any organisation, values provide a framework that guides our decisions and actions. They determine how we show up for our customers and provide a reference point when we are faced with choices. 
  
Harry and Wally are making choices based on their values and what they consider important in life.

Neither of them is wrong…they are just motivated by different rewards.
 
What has caused the upset, is the absence of any agreement between them on the core values underpinning the business.

Shared values in a business, be it a small café or a large public sector body, provide a foundation for decision-making. They provide clarity about what is important and what is expected…the do’s and don’ts. Without this clarity, people will pull in different directions, causing upset, confusion and bad feelings.

Of course, clarity by itself isn't enough...leaders have to actively ensure the values are translated into action in all decisions impacting on both internal and external customers. Otherwise values just become meaningless words on a website or on letterheads!

So, going forward, while I hunt around for an alternative venue, I’m hoping Harry and Wally will agree a shared vision and values for their partnership...the success of their business will depend on it!