Decoding Value-Based Leadership

At Lumine, our mission is to illuminate the potential of communications and media software businesses. We empower over 25 businesses and more than 3000 employees worldwide to grow through best practices and operational guidance.

Within those businesses are their leaders, those that motivate and inspire their teams to do great work. At Lumine, we recognize that the definition of a leader is subjective. In response, we have embraced a value-based approach to leadership that empowers leaders to translate their existing values into action.

What exactly is value-based leadership? Values-based leadership is a leadership style that emphasizes the importance of personal and organizational values in guiding decision-making and behavior. The concept focuses on the values tied to the unique combination of qualities possessed by an individual, the organizational culture, and their reactions to the challenges at hand.

At Lumine, the values driving this framework are rooted in four areas: humility, curiosity, intensity, and numeracy.

To break down these concepts further, we spoke with Amy Benoit, Vice President of Human Resources at Lumine Group, to learn more about how these values in action shape impactful leadership. In addition, we delved into about how Lumine is investing in leadership development to support long-term professional growth.

Amy has more than 20 years of experience as an HR professional. At Lumine, she oversees growth and development as well as many other aspects of managing a team whose goal, amongst many, is to keep employees engaged, create mentorship, and build a culture of learning.

Q: What drew Lumine to a value-based leadership approach? 

Amy: The influence of values on decision-making and team inspiration is paramount. As the guiding principles that underpin our actions, values provide a moral compass for navigating complex choices that influence businesses and teams. When leaders and teams align with shared values, decisions become not just strategic, but resonate with a deeper sense of purpose.

The pillars of good leadership come from attitude and aptitude. Both create the foundation of a strong leader. When we look at our values, and how those values inspire our senior leaders, we consider how they lay a foundation for decision-making and behavior.

Outlining key values helps create a quantifiable framework for subjective assessments, anchored in alignment with the objectives of the organization. This approach ensures that the criteria for leadership qualifications are not only individualized but also purposefully aligned with the overarching goals of the organization.

Q: What is Lumine's approach to leadership development, and how does it differ from a one-size-fits-all training program? 

Amy: Lumine doesn’t believe in placing every leader or aspiring leader in the organization through the same training program. We have a bespoke approach to professional development. One way our team supports current leaders is by offering a leadership assessment that helps identify the leadership values of the individual, along with a debrief post-assessment with a certified HR professional.

Within that experience, an individual can reflect a mirror on themselves, acknowledging any blind spots, and formulate a learning plan that works for them and maximizes their commitment to their own development process.

Returning to the idea of bespoke mentorship and personal development opportunities, Lumine recently held an event in Rome, Italy for individuals they see as strong leaders and have upwardly mobile potential This event brought together a cohort of individuals from different businesses, departments, and seniority levels to invest in their development, discuss values that make a leader, and reinforce Lumine’s focus on scaling and providing advancement opportunities for individuals within the organization.

We’ve seen that learning events are powerful. In April 2023, we held Illuminate, a learning event for senior leaders that brought together 220+ individuals across Lumine for four days of knowledge sharing and networking to enhance their ability to drive success within their organization and teams. (You can read more about Illuminate here.)

Q: What advice do you have for emerging leaders to grow within their organization? 

Amy: First, share your desires and career aspirations with your direct managers and HR contacts. At Lumine, there are many options outside of a traditional career trajectory. For example, the CEO level is not necessarily the highest promotion -- if you excel as a CEO, there are opportunities to move upwards to become a Group Leader, where you can oversee several businesses and manage and nurture a group of CEOs.

Second, have a minimum of bi-weekly touchpoints with your senior leaders. Share your successes. You should not wait until a one-year review to understand your progress.

Third, demonstrate your values throughout your resume. Resumes should no longer lean on adjectives, but rather highlight quantifiable achievements in your role through numbers and impact. For example, highlight the process improvements that enhanced productivity, or how you’ve impacted the business’ growth.

Fourth, intensity can be demonstrated through difficult assignments taken on or projects that were notable.

Curiosity and humility pair well together. The language used on a resume can highlight collaboration and teamwork. Especially in leadership, a manager does not work alone. Demonstrating how a team came together to achieve success rather than sharing “I” statements only, can make an impact.

Through this conversation, we recognize Lumine Group's commitment to value-based leadership and how it shines through as inspiration for organizations seeking a transformative approach to leadership. By fostering a culture centered around humility, curiosity, intensity, and numeracy, Lumine not only empowers its leaders but also cultivates an environment where every team member can thrive.

When placing the power on values, it helps shape not just successful leaders but a thriving organizational culture. Embracing this philosophy can position businesses toward sustained growth, innovation, and a workplace where leadership isn't just a role, but a shared commitment to excellence.