Building a Values-Driven Organization

Building a Values-Driven Organization: A Whole System Approach to Cultural Transformation

About the Author

Richard Barrett is a renowned thought leader in the field of values-driven leadership and organizational transformation. As the managing partner of Richard Barrett and Associates, he has conducted cultural values assessments for over 600 organizations across 35 countries. His best-selling book, Liberating the Corporate Soul, established him as a pivotal figure in understanding how values impact organizational success. Barrett's extensive work with CEOs and major organizations globally underlines his expertise in creating values-driven cultures that lead to long-term sustainability and performance.

Main Idea

Richard Barrett's book, Building a Values-Driven Organization, provides a comprehensive guide for leaders who are committed to fostering a values-based approach within their organizations. Barrett emphasizes the importance of aligning principles and values through a whole-system approach, which serves as a robust framework for achieving long-term success. By integrating values management into the fabric of an organization, leaders can harness the collective energy and capacity of their people towards achieving virtuous and valuable ends.

Table of Contents

• Introduction to Whole-System Change
• Values Management
• The Seven Levels of Consciousness Model
• The Cultural Transformation Tools
• Mapping the Values of Organizations
• Merging Cultures and the Importance of Leadership Values
• Leadership: The Key to Cultural Transformation
• The Framework for Whole-System Change
• Integrating Appreciative Inquiry and Resilience
• New Leaders, New Change Agents
• Social Constructionism

Introduction to Whole-System Change

The concept of whole-system change is pivotal in Barrett's framework, drawing from Ken Wilber's Four Quadrant Model. This holistic approach ensures that as individuals within an organization evolve their values and beliefs, there is a concurrent shift in collective actions and behaviors. Barrett explains that true transformation begins with a shift in personal consciousness and culminates in a collective behavioral change. He states,

"As individuals change their values and beliefs, their actions and behaviors change. When a critical mass of individuals changes their values and beliefs in the same direction, their collective actions and behaviors also change." - Richard Barrett

By focusing on parallel shifts in personal, structural, values, and mission alignment, organizations can achieve a new level of internal stability and external equilibrium. This whole-system approach ensures that cultural transformation is comprehensive and sustainable, impacting every facet of the organization.

Values Management

Values management is the process of actively measuring and monitoring the values and behaviors within an organization to sustain high performance. Barrett emphasizes the importance of understanding the levels of consciousness and worldviews of different segments of the executive and employee population. This understanding is crucial for designing and supporting a whole-system transformation process. By aligning values with behaviors, leaders can create a culture that continuously adapts and evolves, maintaining high levels of performance and sustainability.