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The fabric of history is interwoven with different people, cultures, generations, and values. It is what makes it interesting. It can also be what tears it apart.

The same is true of families, organizations, and communities.

Each of these is comprised of people who have different strengths, skills, experiences, and values.

• Parents know that each child is unique. You can’t follow the same blueprint with each child. Where parents try to do this, the child may grow up feeling insecure or resentful for having been forced into the mold of a sibling.
• Good leaders know that each employee is unique. And they seek to learn the strengths, skills, and motivations for each. In this way, they help to grow future leaders.
• And solid communities are built on people who find common values and build, together, on those. Each person uniquely contributes their strengths to help others.

You can focus on the differences or step back and see the richness of the art that is created when people work together.

In a recent Gallup survey, 79% of respondents said respecting different values mattered more than everyone sharing the same values.

The fact is, there will be differences. And there should also be respect.

Interestingly enough, in the Gallup survey, three common values surfaced: Honesty, Responsibility, and Integrity. This is a good place to start because people may not agree with you on everything. And they may not like the way you do things. But they will respect your honesty, sense of responsibility, and integrity because those are their values, too.

How can you, as a leader, make a difference?

• First, be true to who you are. Authenticity matters. Know your values and your strengths, and live by those.
• Focus on the shared values of honesty, responsibility, and integrity.
• Understand that each person brings a unique set of values, strengths, skills, and experience; and find ways to help them bring value in service to others.
• Ask questions and listen. You may not agree with everything someone else says or does, but you will learn something. And this will also open the door to communication.
• Take time to get to the root of a problem and find ways to solve that.
• John Maxwell says it well, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
• Find common ground. Most of the time, you can find common ground, not on everything; but, perhaps, on more than you think.

Realize that your actions as a leader add to the fabric of history. Whether you lead as a parent, a business leader, a teacher, or in your community, you bring value. And you can make a difference.

For valuable resources on Leadership Strengths and Tools, click here.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!