Avoid flip-flopping: leaders should be clear about their own and the team's shared values.
Have you ever known people who constantly change their opinion depending on who's around? Chances are you don't feel comfortable placing a whole lot of trust in them.
As a leader, it's critical to be clear about your opinions. Doing so inspires trust and increases good work performance in teams.
But before openly defining the team's and their own values, leaders need to know exactly what those personal and professional values are.
Our own values affect everything we do. For example, if a leader values an obedient staff over a staff that takes the initiative without his permission, it will affect the way the staff acts.
According to studies, leaders are more motivated and productive when they define their own personal values. So at this point, you need to define your own values. One way of doing so is to examine your past and ask yourself which values have influenced your decision-making processes.
At this point, leaders should be clear about their own and the team's shared values. They should ensure that everyone's values are talked about openly. That way, the team can reach a certain level of agreement.
What's more, research shows that, if team members' values match the firm's, commitment to the firm will increase. One General Electric (GE) employee proved just that.