For years, I’ve contributed this monthly column to the Chimney Rock Chronicle, applying leadership and communication principles from my work with business executives to our relationships with friends and family. Recently, articles have drawn from What’s KILLING Your Profitability? (It ALL Boils Down to Leadership!) and Leading With a Clear Purpose, linking strong workplace leadership to better home bonds. With my upcoming book, The Values Advantage: The Foundation for Leading with a Clear Purpose (early 2026 release), I’m excited to explore this further. Let’s start with an overview of its core idea and its relevance to our closest relationships.
The Values Advantage asserts that core values are the bedrock of any thriving organization, not just buzzwords. From my three decades in manufacturing, construction, and consulting, I share stories of career shifts driven by mismatched values. My last two years in manufacturing involved hiring hundreds during high churn, but the new management’s actions clashed with senior team values, leading to my exit after nearly 20 years. Conversely, consulting with a family-owned business where owners Craig and Kim embedded five clear values yielded explosive growth and low turnover.
The book has three sections. Section One argues for values-driven leadership: Values anchor organizations, but weak foundations cause trust issues, disengagement, and reputational damage. I examine stakeholders—teams need alignment for motivation, clients seek trust, communities value support, and legacies depend on it. Successes like Chick-fil-A’s “My Pleasure” culture contrast with failures from value ambiguity, highlighting neglect’s costs and authenticity’s rewards.
Section Two covers practical applications: Start with clear value definitions, daily modeling, and routine integration. It emphasizes consistent examples, sustainable expectations with accountability, and the impact of living values. I echo John Maxwell: “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” Leaders must exemplify values to retain top talent.
Section Three provides a lasting impact framework: Define what you want to be known for, assess current perception, and bridge the gap with fanatical consistency—hiring, reviewing, and recognizing based on values. The appendix showcases real-world wins like boosted profitability.
Now, how does this translate to our personal lives? Just as values are the foundation for a business, they’re the glue in our relationships with spouses, kids, friends, and extended family. Think about it: In a marriage or friendship, vague values lead to misunderstandings and resentment, much like ambiguous company values cause turnover. If family is a core value, but your actions prioritize work over dinner conversations, the foundation cracks. I’ve seen this in my own life—early career demands strained time with Cindy, but aligning our personal values (like integrity and service) built resilience.
Apply the book’s principles: Clearly define shared values (e.g., respect, honesty) through open talks. Model them consistently—don’t preach patience while snapping at a child. Set sustainable expectations with gentle accountability, celebrating small wins like a thoughtful note to a friend. The impact? Deeper trust, stronger bonds, and a legacy of meaningful connections. As Maxwell says, lead by example, and others follow.
In coming months, I’ll summarize each chapter, tying business insights to home life. For now, reflect: What values form your relationships’ foundation? Strengthen them, and watch everything rise.
Wes Dove is the founder of Dove Development & Consulting, focused on helping organizations improve profitability by building better leaders. Prior to that, Wes did extensive work in behavior-based safety, as
well as safety and human resource compliance. As of August 2025, Wes has published two Amazon #1Best Sellers: What’s KILLING Your Profitability? (It ALL Boils Down to Leadership!) and Leading With A Clear Purpose. His third book, The Values Advantage, is scheduled for an early ’26 release and he’s currently working on the manuscript for a fourth. Wes and his wife, Cindy, speak to and provide training for organizations across the United States on the topics of leadership and workplace communication.
