Values-based leadership is not an end goal. It is a process, one that author Harry Kraemer defines as the “five bests”—best self, best team, best partner, best investment, and best citizen. To illustrate the five bests in action, Harry showcases the approaches taken by notable leaders.

1. x
HOW THE BEST OF THE BEST
ARE BECOMING THE BEST
WITH VALUES-BASED LEADERSHIP
W O R L D - C L A S S L E A D E R S S P E A K

2. The “five bests”
of becoming a world-class,
values-based organization
is a journey

3. best CITIZEN
best SELF
best PARTNER
best TEAM
best INVESTMENT
That journey is built
on the foundation
of becoming your

4. Actualizing who you
are meant to become
best SELF1

5. “When you’re a leader,people look
to you, trying to anticipate what
you’ll do or say. Through self-reflection, you
increase your awareness of how you are
communicating with others. Do you show
passion and compassion? Are you hard driving
and thinking big thoughts, but never losing
your humility because you know you can’t
accomplish those big dreams all by yourself?”
—Mark R. Neaman,
President and CEO of NorthShore University HealthSystems

6. best SELF
As a values-based leader, becoming
your best self deepens your self-
awareness and understanding that in
order to positively influence and lead
people, you first need to relate to them.
The foundation of best self is self-
reflection to identify, embrace, and stay
mindful of your values—what means
most to you.

7. Coming together to fulfill
the goals and objectives
of the values-based
organization
best TEAM2

8. “To me, it’s all about the people,
and how they are representing you and the
enterprise when you are not in the room, which
is 99 percent of the time.With this realization,
you need to have highly competent, high-
character people—the right people on the bus,
in the right seat, and with the right motivation.”
—Doug Conant,
CEO of Campbell Soup Company from 2001-2011

9. best TEAM
When a group of individuals who
are committed to becoming their best
selves come together in service of an
overarching mission or vision, the result
is a best team that does not focus on
“being right” but rather on “doing right”.

10. Forging a partnership with
suppliers and customers to
enhance the experience
across the value chain
for the ultimate benefit
of the end user
best PARTNER3

11. “You need to be an expert in the
client’s or trading partner’s business,
with an intimate understanding of its P&L [profit
and loss] statement.That means becoming
totally invested in those client relationships.”
—Mark Thierer,
chairman and CEO of Catamaran Corp.

12. best PARTNERSHIP
A best partnership is a holistic relationship,
in which all parties come together around
common values and unifying goals.Each
party must have a deep understanding
of the others—their values and priorities.

13. Focusing on generating
a return for owners/
stakeholders through
positive and meaningful
actions that support
the mission, vision, and
values of the organization
best INVESTMENT4

14. “An alpha-performing company will attract
the investment capital it needs to grow the
business.The only way to do that is by
attracting the talent to create
best teams, having a culture that
values best partnerships, and then
outperforming as a best investment.”
—Tim Sullivan,
managing director at Madison Dearborn Partners

15. best INVESTMENT
As a best investment, an organization
becomes a steward of all its resources,
especially talent, in order to generate
a return (even an above-market return
known as “alpha”) for owners and
other stakeholders.

16. Focusing not only
on success, but also
significance, through
social responsibility
and making a difference
in the world
best CITIZEN5

17. “An organization can do well
financially and generate the kind of
shareholder return that it should, while
still doing good in the world.
These are not mutually exclusive concepts.”
—Laysha Ward,
president of Community Relations,Target Corporation

18. best CITIZEN
From a holistic perspective, there is an
inter-relationship among all five bests
in a values-based organization:
resonating with best selves, motivating
best teams, encouraging best partners,
and supporting best investment.

19. THROUGH THE FIVE BESTS,
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
Learn more about
Becoming the Best
wileybiz.com/kraemer-becoming-the-best
harrykraemer.org
#BecomingTheBest
COMMITTING EVERY DAY TO
BECOMING THE BEST YOU AND
YOUR ORGANIZATION CAN BE.
Wiley is a registered trademark of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.