Value-Based Leadership
Henrik Pettersson
Value-Based Leadership
Henrik Pettersson Value-Based Leadership
©HenrikPettersson2025
Publisher: BoD· BooksonDemand, Östermalmstorg 1, 114 42 Stockholm, Sweden,bod@bod.se
Printer: LibriPlureos GmbH, Friedensallee 273, 22763 Hamburg, Germany
ISBN:978-91-8114-776-6
Foreword –The ArtofLeading with Values
“Torule the world, startbyruling yourself.”
–Lao Tzu
The best leader is notthe one who speaks theloudest, butthe one who listens the deepest. Not the onewho rules withaniron fist, butthe one who leads with ease. Thisbookisaninvitation to explore what it trulymeansto be avalues-based leader –tocombine ancient wisdom with modern leadership theories to create sustainable results andmeaningfulimpact.
Leadership is about creating movement without forcing,achieving without demanding,and being acatalystfor change. But leadership always begins within yourself.Ifyou can’tleadyourself,why wouldanyone else want to followyou? That’s whywestartwith the foundation: self-leadership.Fromthere, we explorehow youcan supportothers to grow,build trust, and createstrongrelationships.Finally,wemoveonto leading an organization –with vision,clarity, andvalues as the coreof everything youdo.
My name is HenrikPettersson,and my greatest driveistohelp leaders discoverand develop theirinner strength sothattheycan become both courageous role models and successfulchangeleaders. Since2004, Ihave had the privilegeof coachingand inspiring individuals andteams, from beginnerstoseasonedtop performers, in areas suchasself-leadership, sales, andpersonal development.
With over 20 years ofexperience andthousands of conversations behind me, Ihavegained adeep understandingofthe challenges andopportunities leaders face. Ihavelearned thatsuccess is not aboutalwayshavingall theanswers but about daringtobehuman,never stopping learning,and constantlyholding on to hope –evenwhen theroad is at its toughest.
Forme, leadership is about creating real change, both withinyourself andinyour surroundings. It is ajourneythat requires courage, humility, and belief in what’spossible.Thisjourneyisnot just my work butmypassion andmycalling.
This book is your map –orperhaps your GPS –for navigatingthe landscape of leadership.Itisdivided intothree essential parts so thatyou can takeone insight at atime:
1. Leading Yourself
Start with yourself.Strengthen your self-awareness, take responsibility foryour choices, and createaninnercalmthatinfluences others.
2. Leading Others
Build trust, inspire, andhelppeople grow.Yourleadership is at itsstrongest when youliftothers.
3. Leading the Organization
Define avisionthatengages theentireorganization. Create clarityand acultureofcollaboration and success.
This handbook is designed notonlytogiveyou newinsights butalsoto anchor them in your dailylife. You’ll notice that we sometimes returnto certain themes and principles. This is no coincidence. It’sbecause everything in leadershipisinterconnected. Self-leadership,leading others, and leadingthe organization arelikethree interconnected circles –theyinfluence and strengthenone another.Repetition is the keytodeepening and creating real change.
The truth is that life as aleader is an ecosystemwhere youreapwhatyou sow. Areyou readytotakeresponsibility foryour development andreach your full potential?This book is notjust inkonpaper –it’syour personal action plan. Together,we will create power, clarity,and purposeinyour leadership.
So…open the book,openyour mind, and open the door to your full potential.
Let’sgo!
/Henrik
Not Just aBook
–AHandbookfor Your Leadership
“Value-Based Leadership”isnot just abook;it is your compass andguide to evolving as aleader on every level. It helps youbalance rational decisions with emotional insight and provides powerful tools to reflect on howyou lead yourself, others, and your organization.
The book is divided intothree parts, highlighting the mostcritical aspects of sustainable andsuccessfulleadership:
Part 1: Leading Yourself
•Exploreyour valuesand innermost driving forces.
• Live authentically andinalignment with what youare passionateabout.
•Cultivate astrongbelief in the future and self-leadership.
Part 2: Leading Others
•Inspireand createpositive energy around you.
•Master the art of persuasive arguments andexertingpositive influence.
•Build an inclusive culturethatfosters development andtrust.
Part 3: Leading the Organization
•Set clear goals anda defined strategy.
•Act decisivelyand solution-oriented.
•Prioritizeproactively for long-term successand sustainability.
The three parts arebuilt around questions that helpyou becomeamore conscious, inspiring,and action-oriented leader.This bookisnot just about identifying challenges;it is about creatingpowerful solutions andstrengthening your ability to lead with energy,clarity, andfocus.
With this map and compassinhand, youare readytotakethe firststeps toward amorevalues-based leadershipand to createsustainableresults –for yourself,your team,and your organization.
Part 1: Leading Yourself –Rock-Solid ground
Introduction
Knowing Yourself–The KeytoTrueLeadership
Lao Tzusaid, “He who knowsothers is wise, but he who knows himself is enlightened.”And indeed, it’seasytospend all your time analyzingothers –colleagues, customers, competitors,eventhe neighbor who alwaysparks crooked. But if youdon’tknowyourself,who areyou leading?A confused version of yourself, drivenbyautopilot andcoffee?
Knowing yourselfisn’t just anicethoughttojot down in the marginsofa self-help book. It is the cornerstone of values-based leadership.How can youlead others if youdon’tknowwhatyou stand for? If you’re unaware of your triggers,your values, or whatmakes youloseyour temperina Teams meeting?
Self-Awareness –AnEssentialTool (and Yes, It’s Challenging)
Do youwanttoachieve strong resultswhile maintainingyourintegrity? Start by lookinginthe mirror.True strength is not aboutalwaysbeing right or dominatingthe room.It’sabout daring to pauseand reflect: Whydid I react that way?Whatreally mattershere? And no,isittrulynecessary to win this argument about the PowerPointtheme?
Self-awareness is about having thecourage to recognizeboth your strengths and your weaknesses. Foraleader, thisisinvaluable. Knowing when to stand firm and when to step backrequires morethan gutinstinct –itrequiresbeing rooted in your ownvalues.
Overcoming Yourself –The Greatest Victory
Lao Tzureminds us that the greatest victory is not defeating others but overcoming ourselves. And let’sbehonest –managing ourown emotions andimpulses is often agreater challenge than managingothers. It’seasy to get swept away by stress, deadlines,orthe temptation to say, “I’lldoit myself; it’sfaster that way.”
But leadership isn’tabout doing everything yourself.It’sabout creating an environmentwhereothers cansucceed. When youlearntoovercome your ownreactions andinstead actwith calmnessand clarity,you not only become abetterleader –you alsobecomea role model foryour team.
TheStrength in Knowing Your Path
Whenyou knowyourself and staytruetoyourvalues, youbecome like a tree with deep roots:stable, flexible, and unshakable.Livingand leading with purposenot onlycreatessustainable results, butitalso brings asense of meaning.And honestly,who wouldn’twantleadership thatbothinspires andgetsthingsdone?
So,ask yourself:Are youreadytoface yourself?Because if youare,you will alsobereadytofacethe world–and lead it, in your ownway.
Table of Contents
Chapter1:Character,Self-Awareness, and Courage– The FoundationofSelf-Leadership
Leading others alwaysbegins with leadingyourself.Self-leadership is aboutbuilding astrongcharacter anddevelopingdeep self-awareness.As aleader,you must knowwhat youstand forand have the courage to stay truetoit, no matter the situation.
Self-Awareness: Your Foundation
Self-awarenessmeansunderstandingyour strengths, weaknesses, triggers, and values. It provides clarity andconfidence in your decision-making. As LaoTzu says, “He who knowsothers is wise, but he who knows himself is enlightened.”
Building Strong Character
Character is about beingreliable andacting with integrity.Nelson Mandela put it well: “I am the master of my fate,the captainofmysoul.”Asa leader, youmust build asolidfoundation by living in alignmentwithyour values, regardless of circumstances.
Courage: Acting DespiteFear
Courage is about makingdecisions even when theyare uncomfortable.It’s about standing firm in your beliefsand handling opposition with integrity. Stories suchasErnestShackleton’s expeditions andGreta Thunberg’s unwavering campaign show that courageisnot theabsence of fear butthe ability to act despiteit.
“Value-Based Leadership –Leading Yourself, Others and theBusiness withClarity and Integrity” is apractical guide for leaders who want to develop authentic and sustainable leadership.
The book combinestimeless wisdom withmodern leadership research andprovides concrete tools forstrengthening self-leadership, building trusting relationshipsand leading businesses with values as afoundation.
Through powerfulinsightsand practicalmethods, you’ll learn how to navigate complexdecisions, create engagement, and drive change with clarity and direction.The book provides you with strategiesfor leading with bothheart andsharpness, whilebuildinga cultureof responsibility, motivation and long-termresults.
Henrik Pettersson is passionate about igniting the spark in leaders who strivetoreach new heights—both as role modelsand change-makers.Withover 25 years of experienceinleadership, sales, andpersonal development, he has coached everyone from aspiring professionals to top executives. His philosophy is simple yet powerful: true leadership always starts from within.
Henrik blends ancient wisdom with modern leadership principles to createsustainableresults and lasting impact. He believes in authenticity, the courage to challenge the status quo, and thecommitment to continuous growth— bothas individuals and as leaders.For him, leadershipis not justabout strategies but about embodying values and inspiringothersto do the same.
Asthe author of Value-BasedLeadership, Henrik provides apractical and inspiring roadmap for navigating leadership and self-leadership—where self-awareness, trust,and courage serve as the guiding compass.
