Value Your Leadership Values

Thoughtful managers invest time in developing their leadership skills. If you are new to talking or thinking deeply about your management practice, a great place to start is to value your leadership values. I use the following process to help my clients write a leadership values statement so they can begin the work of becoming the BEST boss they can be.

The first step for developing a leadership values statement is to create a Venn diagram on a large piece of paper. In other words, draw two large, overlapping circles on a full page of white paper. At the top of the left circle write: "My Best Bost". Label the top of the right circle: "My Leadership Style".

Next, spend a few minutes thinking about the best supervisor you ever had. Think WAY back to your first job, perhaps as a grocery clerk at the local corner market, and fast forward through every subsequent workplace and supervisor you experienced. Which leader stands out as the BEST?

Now take a few minutes to jot down as many adjectives as you can remember about your best boss' leadership style. If they are adjectives that can describe BOTH of your styles, put them in the space where your circles overlap. If they are traits that only describe your best boss, put them in the left part of the left circle.

Self-reflection time! Can you think of any adjectives that describe YOUR leadership style, but not your best boss'? If yes, put those in the right portion of the right circle.

Finally, spend some time contemplating the adjectives you see ONLY in the left circle. Which of those adjectives would you like to incorporate into your own leadership style? Choose one adjective. In the photo above, maybe I would choose joyful. Then, for one month, I would practice incorporating joy into my leadership practice. Every month, I would choose a new trait to dial down on, in order to become a better boss. This is also a good tool to use when writing your annual professional development plan.

Finally, it's time to write your leadership values statement. Focus on the adjectives in the middle and in the far right circle. Use them to craft a statement that encapsulates both your leadership mission and vision.

Here's my personal leadership values statement:

Jess Thompson is an inspiring, responsive, and self-reflective leader. A hands on supervisor, she roots all organizational work in a deep equity and inclusion practice. She believes strong teams practice direct communication as a tool to improve both organizational processes and outcomes. She has been described as a data-driven manager who has high expectations and a big heart.

There are areas Jess seeks to improve her leadership practice. Over the course of the next year, she will dial down on incorporating joy into her day-to-day work life. She also commits to taking more risks--especially when it comes to developing relationships that would benefit the organization. Finally, she will share the areas in which she seeks to grow, so she can inspire her team, model what self-reflection in the workplace looks like, and to supervise from a more humble standpoint. Finally, she will work to move away from the 5,000 or 30,000 foot view, and spend more time at 50,000 feet--thinking strategically and holistically about how to move the team and organization forward.

Once you have written your leadership values statement, you can begin leading more thoughtfully and mindfully; below are some ideas of how you might move forward with this work:

--Post your leadership values statement on the wall of your office as a reminder of who you are, what you believe, and how you will improve.

--Share it with your team. Have them practice this same exercise for themselves, and have them share their leadership value statements at your next meeting.

--Have periodic check ins with your direct reports, and have them give you feedback on how actions reflect (or not) your leadership values statement. Use this feedback to improve your leadership practice.

If you (or a boss you know) are interested in improving your management skills, contact Jess Thompson at jess@thomkeconsulting.com.