Individuals’ lives and professions are shaped by their values, which are the essential concepts that impact their behaviors and choices. Leadership principles are a subgroup of values that positively affect someone’s ability to govern or be a great leader successfully. According to Ashimolowo (2013), individuals may promote and strengthen leadership ideals through time. The central lesson the author is teaching is providing fundamental values leaders require for successful operations. Values-driven administration realizes its maximum capability when proclaimed ideals are reflected by leadership and accepted by the whole organization. As a result, a true and long-lasting company culture can emerge. This paper explains Ashimolowo’s book by analyzing three significant learning outcomes and comparing the prevailing thought on the western perspective on leadership to that of the Nigerian writer.
The three significant outcomes analyzed in the book are values that, when employed, result in practical leadership qualities. These values are essential principles that define what is suitable for an individual in leadership; they are the value of achievement, change and ethics at work. All leaders should attempt to realize a noteworthy measure of achievement. It necessitates encouraging a high-performance standard in job commitment and various organizational tasks. People should appreciate success to make advancements in society. The achieving leader is innovative, driven, and proactive to get tasks completed thoughtfully and strategically (Ashimolowo, 2013). They will coach and encourage colleagues, acknowledging that teamwork can do significantly more remarkable compared to individuals.
A successful leader must respect the ability to adapt to change. Leaders should welcome change since it contributes to fresh opportunities for advancement and achievement. Strong leaders do not avoid change since it is beneficial and indicates that development is being made. These leaders are enthusiastic about it because they understand that clever, driven people thrive in times of transition. A good leader is attentive to response from their workforce and welcomes all suggestions, notwithstanding the source (Ashimolowo, 2013). Since each new concept can render old ideas outdated, they are eager to appreciate and hesitant to criticize. The joy of discovering new ideas in the business sector replaces the pain of uncertainty.
Ethics in the organization is considered a moral framework that directs personnel conduct regarding what is fair and unfair concerning behavior and decision-making. Neglect to demonstrate a decent work ethic could be construed as a failure to deliver an acceptable return for an individual’s earnings. Employment should be viewed as an opportunity to demonstrate specific principles that define the employee or leader. Ethical decision-making in the business world considers the most significant interests of the individual worker and the best interests of others who are impacted (Ashimolowo, 2013). It is critical to realize that acceptable professional behavior may encourage beneficial personnel behaviors that contribute to corporate progress.
Individuals’ capacity to persuade company employees toward achieving objectives is emphasized in Western definitions. Western leadership thought is frequently characterized as evolving through main elements that include structural, psychological, contextual, revolutionary, visionary, and charismatic (Shamir & Howell, 2018). Ashimolowo’s book compares to the prevailing thought on the view of the west on leadership since they share some values such as achievement and vision (Ashimolowo, 2013). The idea that leadership is value-driven means that executives at all levels have decided to govern with their principles and establish a business culture that maximizes economic success, professionalism, socially responsible and ecological effect.
In conclusion, the Nigerian author focuses on providing values that enable effective leadership in the business sector. The major learning outcomes from the book are the importance of the value of achievement, change and ethics at work. The Western perspective on leadership compares to the author’s view since they share values like vision and achievement. Leaders with a strong understanding of mission and a proven dedication to life-affirming values such as honesty, boldness, modesty, compassion, and social and ecological stewardship are examples of values-driven leaders.
References
Ashimolowo, M. (2013). Values-driven leadership: Making ethics, morality, professionalism the bedrock of success. River Blue Publishing.
Shamir, B., & Howell, J. M. (2018). Organizational and contextual influences on the emergence and effectiveness of charismatic leadership. Monographs in Leadership and Management, 9(3), 255-281. Web.