When Words Matter Most: Stories of Values-Driven Leadership in Critical Context

A senior leader’s values, reflected in everyday words and actions, are brought into sharp focus and often put to the test during critical moments. Understanding the values that underlie leadership is critical to both management consultants and OD practitioners as they work to understand and implement change. Unfortunately, there are many examples today of leadership gone wrong and few examples of leaders who lead with their values to create an organizational culture that optimizes financial performance, ethical practice, social contribution, and environmental impact. To help address this gap, our panelists offer examples of values-driven leadership in three critical contexts: global peacebuilding, healthcare management, and crisis management. As scholar-practitioners, all presenters bring keen insights from the front and help us understand practically and theoretically: how leaders hold on to and communicate their values; how they draw on the power of words to mobilize organizational and global change; an...