During a recent meeting, Chuck Bengochea, the CEO of The Honey Baked Ham Company made a very interesting comment. He said: “Your core values are your corporate DNA.” In other words, your company core values should be imprinted on everything from your processes to your product. Chuck went on to share one of his company’s core values: “Leave the company and the brand better today than it was yesterday.” This comment challenges leaders to be stewards of their company’s brand – I like that. As the meeting came to a close Chuck shared one last pearl of wisdom: “Leadership is about serving, not being served.” This comment ties directly to the concept of servant leadership, whereby we as leaders honor our team members by serving their needs and growth potential.

What are your core values or thoughts about leadership style?