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Key Takeaways As organizations grow beyond initial products, markets and purposes, many leaders’ values get lost.
Some leaders fear that being authentic and relatable erodes authority.
Leadership has never been easy, but 2025 presented unique friction. Employees stayed put — not out of loyalty — but due to economic uncertainty and a declining job market. They see leaders discussing AI adoption without a clear strategy.
This complexity mixes with a growing demand for purpose. Work must feel meaningful. Furthermore, trust in business is eroding; 61% of the global population believes industry and the wealthy make their lives challenging.
These conditions emphasize the need for value-driven leadership. This approach aligns decisions with stated values. Culture reflects a leader’s example, not platitudes.
However, organizational complexity and pressure tempt leaders to stray from their principles. Managers need tools to stay anchored. These selections focus on leadership dilemmas, not just tactics. The ideas presented in these books translate values into everyday decisions.
1. The Compass Within: A Little Story About the Values That Guide Us by Robert Glazer
A parable uses storytelling to make a moral statement — spiritual insight wrapped in a fable. This is the style Glazer uses in his latest book to guide leaders toward making external decisions based on inner values. The Compass Within demonstrates how this internal compass can steer all choices.
The core idea is simple: integrity in decision-making stems from knowing your values. Once you understand your internal compass, saying no to tempting shortcuts becomes easier. When asked to make a fast decision, you can learn to pause and check which direction your compass points.
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