Introduction

Welcome to Values-Based Leadership For Dummies! There's always something in life that sets us on a trajectory toward a goal. We seek, consciously or unconsciously, to fulfill that goal our entire lives. For me, it's always been to be a really good leader who does the right thing by my people. I always knew that if you treated people well, they would go to the ends of the earth for you. Treat them badly, and you've got a whole other problem on your hands. I could chalk it up to being one of four children in a boisterous house where my mother taught me to always look out for my brothers and sister - and everyone else. Maybe you're the same. It's just programmed in there. No matter what, it's unshakable. You too?

So, here we are together, about to embark on this journey called values-based leadership (VBL). I've ventured to share whatever I've learned over these many years in business, personally and through my mentors and clients. It's not perfect - after all, I'm not perfect. Even the title "expert" makes me cringe. This book is just one woman's take on the topic of leadership. It may not suit everyone. But it's completely customizable, so you can take what you like and leave the rest behind.

On this journey, there will be good days. There will be bad days. And then there will be those days when you think you just simply can't bear it anymore. But I assure you, you will bear it. You won't abandon your team. I know that because you're here with me. Sure, you may move on, but leaving for other opportunities isn't abandonment. Abandonment means not caring about them and saying, "See ya later." You won't do that. I know that with every fiber of my being, because it's not just your average human being who will pick up a book titled Values-Based Leadership For Dummies. You're seeking to make the business workplace whole again with an eye on the bottom line. And man, am I happy you're here! The world needs you. The people you lead, or will lead, need you.

About This Book

First and foremost, I want to assure you that this book is for current and would-be leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and every other person who exchanges in the art of commerce. I've done my best to include a few key entry points for those who aren't in "traditional" business setups. And just about everything in this book can be used for more than one purpose. Don't shy away from a chapter just because it doesn't seem to pertain to you at first glance. You may be very surprised by what you learn about yourself. Self-reflection plays a central role throughout this process. Without it, you'll be flying blind. Seeing ourselves, our true motives, and how the decisions we make affect many lives requires such introspection.

Values-Based Leadership For Dummies isn't meant to be read as a step-by-step manual. However, you'll need to embrace some foundational principles and attitudes in order to make use of many of the other tools. If you're reading something that isn't quite making sense to you, I suggest you go to Parts 1 and 2 to find the core principle and meaning of why certain tools are important in the process.

Be warned: I'm going to offer you a different way of viewing leadership and business as a whole. Understanding that commerce is a vehicle for something good, even noble, will forever change how you lead other people. It will also change how you look at your role in this grand play. Your role is to create businesses and teams that serve one another and the community around you, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the way to achieve this. This all may sound grandiose, but I assure you that it's no longer an option - it's the way things are now, and it's become the normal expectation of employees. Preparing for that will assure survival of your leadership.

The principles of VBL establish a platform to create a great company culture where people are focused on living the values set forth by the leader and the organization. This creates a ripple effect into every nook and cranny of the organization: your business model, investing in your team, building strong partnerships, cultivating future leaders, improving communication, and making sure people are the right fit for the organization. Collaboration is the environment where people win. And this is all built on the foundation you set using trust as the key ingredient.

I'm a pretty straightforward person. I'm not very good at hinting around without telling you what's really going on. In this book you find real steps and concrete activities to help you move through situations. You find real stories of real experiences. Don't you just hate when people skirt around the issue and never get to the meat? Me too! Or they tell you they did something amazing but won't share how they made it happen. Ugh. It's so annoying. That won't happen here.

Some of the stories appear in shaded boxes called sidebars. They're skippable, though when you get the chance you may enjoy reading them. My clients and some of my own personal experiences are pretty amusing. I've also provided some juicy info marked with the Technical Stuff icon to appeal to analytical types who want to know the what, how, and why. Figures and lists are sprinkled throughout for maximum saturation of concepts, facts, and processes.

One more thing: You may notice that some web addresses break across two lines of text. If you're reading this book in print and want to visit one of these web pages, simply key in the web address exactly as it's noted in the text, pretending as though the line break doesn't exist. If you're reading this as an e-book, you've got it easy - just click the web address to be taken directly to the web page.

Foolish Assumptions

Assumptions can sometimes get us into trouble. However, it's really important that we're all on the same page together. So, for the moment forget what they say about making assumptions and have a look at the following laundry list. I assume that you

• Are a leader or manager or aspire to be such.
• Find your current workplace landscape mildly or severely out of step with who you are and what you stand for.
• Want to improve your leadership skills.
• Think your workplace needs to evolve but aren't sure how to go about it.
• Are ready to take the reins and make things better for everyone.

Additional assumptions about you, on a more personal level, are that

• You're seeking some joy, fun, and energy in your leadership.
• You've had enough of stodgy, old-school leadership and know it needs some lightening up.
• You've got a healthy sense of humor and an adventurous spirit.
• You've got a big heart and want to balance profits with your desire to do good in this world.

Icons Used in This Book

Throughout your exploration of this book, you'll notice some markers along the way. I've set these in place to call out certain elements on your journey. The little images in the margins of this book, called icons, are signs to pay attention to. Here's what they look like and how to use them:

This icon alerts you to a tip or action that will help you implement what you're learning.

If you take anything away from this book, it should be information marked with this icon. It's a good place to pause and absorb.

This icon serves as a flashing light to alert you to potential missteps, mishaps, or landmines.

This icon highlights statistics and other more technical things that support the material. This is for those who want to know the stats and results from various studies. If that's not you, feel free to skip this stuff.

Beyond the Book

If you're more of a get-to-the-point, read-it-on-my-phone-during-my-commute, quick-reference kind of person, I've got something to suit your style. To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for "Values-Based Leadership For Dummies Cheat Sheet" to find a handy reference guide that answers common questions about VBL.

More bonus materials can be found on www.VBLeader.com and www.MariaGamb.com. There you'll find a very cool infographic pathway to VBL that will keep you focused and on track. You can also subscribe to my newsletter while you're there to receive tips and reminders that are short, sweet, and to the point. Best of all, all of that is completely free.

Should you decide you'd like to learn more about VBL training, communication skills, or signature Values 2 Vision Retreats, you can find it on the website or drop me a line at info@mariagamb.com. I customize all training and coaching programs to the needs of the users and the company.

Where to Go from Here

I'm not sure anything in life is completely linear. We can plan, but plans are often trampled by life. Journeys take unexpected detours. But ultimately, we end up exactly where we need to be. You may, of course, skip around this book at your leisure. One element or another...