Leading with values
Senior executives can benefit from codifying their beliefs and sharing them with colleagues, says
P&G CEO Robert McDonald. In his document titled “What I believe in,” which he shares with managers at P&G and elsewhere, McDonald explains the ten principles that make up the values-based leadership model he says influences him most:
- Living a life driven by purpose is more meaningful and rewarding than meandering through life without direction.
- Companies must do well to do good and must do good to do well.
- Everyone wants to succeed, and success is contagious.
- Putting people in the right jobs is one of the most important jobs of the leader.
- Character is the most important trait of a leader.
- Diverse groups of people are more innovative than homogenous groups.
- Ineffective systems and cultures are bigger barriers to achievement than the talents of people.
- There will be some people in the organization who will not make it on the journey.
- Organizations must renew themselves.
- The true test of leaders is the performance of the organization when they are absent or after they depart.
