Can The Value Of Leadership Provide Strategic Advantage?
Only 9 of the Fortune 100 companies claim Leadership as a core value. Considering the size and global reach of these companies, it’s surprising that figure isn’t higher.
These companies are:
- #2 Exxon Mobil
- #25 Wells Fargo
- #26 Citigroup
- #28 Procter & Gamble
- #31 Freddie Mac (as listed in their Code of Conduct)
- #48 Pfizer (as listed in the Code of Business Conduct)
- #57 Coca-Cola Company
- #78 Honeywell International (as stated in their Code of Business Conduct)
- #83 Delta Air Lines (as listed in their Code of Conduct called “Rules of the Road”
Of interest, Boeing (#30) used to include leadership as a core value. But then they changed their list of values and leadership was dropped.
Defining Leadership
As one of the largest companies in the world (based on revenue), Exxon Mobil focuses the value of leadership on technology.
It’s interesting that both Wells Fargo and Citigroup claim leadership as a core value. Yet, based on revenues, J.P. Morgan Chase and Bank of America are bigger. Clearly anyone can claim leadership, regardless of market position or size.
On the one hand, Wells Fargo provides a rather detailed perspective on leadership (464 words), suggesting that leaders are coaches, connect to the vision, and learn from each other. They also define this value.
“We define leadership as the act of establishing, sharing, and communicating our vision and the art of motivating others to understand and embrace our vision.”
On the other hand, Citigroup succinctly defines leadership as:
“Talented people with the best training who thrive in a diverse meritocracy that demands excellence initiative and courage.”
Procter & Gamble tell their people:
“We are all leaders in our area of responsibility, with a deep commitment to delivering leadership results.”
Freddie Mac views leadership as “taking initiative to achieve a common purpose”.
Pfizer provides no clarification to this value.
There’s the Coca-Cola Company, which simply defines leadership as:
“The Courage to shape a better future.”
Honeywell has defined 12 Behaviors expected in their Code of Business Conduct. One of these is Leadership Impact, which is defined as:
“…thinking like a leader regardless of your job, delivering on commitments, and being a role model for others.”
Then there is Delta Air Lines, which possibly has the best view of all on the value of leadership. In their “Rules of the Road” document, they refer to it as Servant Leadership, and define it as:
“Care for our customers, our community and each other.”
Now that’s a great definition of such an important value. While Delta’s other core values are good – Honesty, Integrity, Respect, Perseverance – their view of leadership as Servant Leadership is a powerful differentiator.
A Few Observations
Based on a review of leadership as a core value at these 9 companies, here are 3 important observations:
- You don’t have to be the biggest in your industry to claim leadership as a core value.
- Leadership is a value for all employees, not just to a select group of senior executives.
- Leadership can be focused on a specific area, such as technology, or viewed broadly, such as servant leadership.
It is quite evident that leadership is a value that can provide strategic advantage.
How can the value of leadership provide strategic advantage for your organization?
Today’s value was selected from the “Effectiveness-Influence” category, based on the e-book Developing Your Differentiating Value.
