Leadership Lessons from West Point

Chapter 5. DEVELOPING ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES IN OTHERS

Chip Daniels

Many organizations have crafted a set of core values that express to their employees, customers, and stakeholders what the company is all about and how it operates. Values statements are posted on company Web sites and office walls. Some companies ask employees to carry a list of the core values with them. They seem to be ubiquitous.

Yet all too often, people in an organization do not share or even know the organizational values. A lack of alignment between personal and organizational values causes stress for the company and for the person. The employee is unhappy and usually unproductive. Moreover, a person in this situation is much more likely to violate the organizational values. ...