Page 208 - Appreciative Leadership

The Path of Integrity 181

Appreciative leaders take time to gather people to clarify shared

values, principles, and core beliefs. They consciously align all that they
say and do with them. On a personal level, they use their values, prin-
ciples, and beliefs as criteria for decisions and conduct. On an organiza-
tional level, they design values into all aspects of processes, systems, and
structures. Many leadership teams say they value people; but few take
the time to design this value into their management processes. When

they do, the benefits are significant, as one tristate construction com-

pany in the Midwest discovered. The leadership team declared an end

to terminations, layoffs, and firings. All processes that involved people

separating from the company were redesigned and renamed “nurtur-
ing out processes.” Resignations, retirements, layoffs, and terminations

all became opportunities to “nurture out.” Th e benefits: fewer legal dis-
putes and increased productivity on the part of those who remained.
Keep Your Word

One of the simplest and clearest ways to demonstrate self-love is by
keeping your word, your agreements, your promises, and your commit-
ments. When you do, you will feel good about yourself, and others will
feel good about you. Keeping your word generates self-respect as well as
respect from others. You know the difference in these two scenarios:

• A supplier gives you an estimate for materials and tells you when
they will arrive. Based on that information, you tell your custom-

ers when they can expect your final products. All is well until the
supplier calls and says the order will be late. You call your custom-
ers, apologize, and set a new product delivery date. Th e materials

come in, and you get the final products to your customers who

pay for a job well done. Then you get the invoice from your sup-
plier. It is higher than initially agreed upon. You decide to “cover
the extra costs” yourself to preserve your customer relationship.

The supplier loses you as a customer.
• A customer calls and needs a supply of materials within two days.
She acknowledges that it is a last-minute order and asks if you can
help. You say yes and then call your department together to fi gure