True leaders know the difference between leadership, management and administration. Failing to know the differences results in confusing leadership with management (making the rules) and/or administration (enforcing the rules). Creating and embracing a culture of leadership requires three key building blocks:
1. Values: Every sustainable organization must have a shared set of values that guide behavior and decision making at every level;
2. Vision: Organizational vision provides the beacon for guiding an organization toward its ultimate desired state and its contribution to its stakeholders, employees, customers and community.
3. Principles: Guiding principles take values and vision to the next step of operationalizing behavior and decision-making into a dynamic and ever-evolving set of organizational goals, objectives and outcomes.
The more thoroughly that leadership builds a Culture of Leadership around these three components, the more employees will be empowered to be creative in their thinking, take good risks, and make good decisions. Not only will the result be improved outcomes, but the cost savings will be huge in requiring less management (rules) and administration (enforcement) to drive behavior and decision-making.
Tags: culture, leadership, values, vision
