The Foundation of Management (and Life) is Values.  This requires a personal examination of ourselves, the one in the mirror.  These are not tools per se for our bag of skills.  These values are our character.  This examination is ongoing.  If it is ongoing, you have an excellent chance of continual improvement.  If we get to a point of saying, “I have this figured out!” that is a sure sign that we do not.  Why?  because the world is constantly changing, and the best managers and leaders continually find solutions to what comes around the corner.  But, there are Foundational Values that drive these solutions. 

Your Foundational Values are; honesty, integrity and sincerity.  When you look at these three characteristics, these three values, who are you? Are you honest? Do you live with a high degree of integrity? Are you sincere with people?  If you say, “Yes,” to these three characteristics, you’re off to a good start.  If you have an issue with one of these three, your first challenge is to fix the issue. You need it. You need these three values.  There are offshoots of those values, as well. But right now, focus on these three.  Who are you in relation to these three?

The next question is, who is the company that you work for? Do they have these same values?

You need to know what your company stands for so that you can avoid the risk of compromise. If your company does not have these three values, there will be times when you’re going to be asked to do something that you don’t want to do. And when that time comes, you’re going to have to make a choice.

You may be asked to compromise your values.  Even if somebody tells you to do it, you must live with the result.  If you’re working for a company right now and this could possibly be an issue, you’re already there and you must manage it and you have to work with it and live with it and work it out.  But if you’re looking for a new job, make sure you know your potential employer on these characteristics.  Again, you cannot afford to be lax on these three values.  If you manage from a high level of honesty, integrity and sincerity, you are off to a great start.  You are someone that you can work with to take you to a higher place in managing and leading people.  Yes, this sentence is worded correctly.  The subject is you.  Enjoy the journey!