The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations, 5th Edition

CHAPTER 2

Clarify Values

WHO ARE YOU? This is the first question your constituents want you to answer. Finding that answer is where every leadership journey begins.

When Alex Anwar was hired as director of a new business unit at Labo America, he faced resentment from many within the company because they felt that he was too young and inexperienced to manage such a diverse group and product portfolio.¹ Because many of the units were siloed and polarized, a widespread question was whether he would be the kind of leader who would bring people together toward a common goal. Alex’s first step was to communicate his values to the team. He circulated an email introducing himself, not as a manager, but as a fellow employee of the company charged with ...