Are You Leading with Value?

When I was a Global Engineering Director, my teams and I were in the middle of what I can only describe as a high-stakes juggling act. We were tasked with reducing multimillion-dollar material costs across multiple continents — all while maintaining product integrity, regulatory compliance, and supply chain stability. At one point, we had more than 400 alternate parts under review, nine countries collaborating across time zones, and a corporate deadline that didn’t exactly care about sleep schedules. 🤦🏾‍♀️

The default leadership reflex would have been to “push harder"... more meetings, more hours, more urgency. Instead, however, I paused and asked one simple question:

“Where’s the real value?”

That question changed everything.

I began applying Value Engineering Principles not just to products, but to our decision-making itself. I dissected functions, challenged assumptions, and aligned every action with its measurable contribution to value — whether that meant redesigning a part, simplifying a process, or empowering a Hardware Engineer to lead an improvement event. The result? We delivered $30M+ in cost savings in under two years, protected global revenue streams, and built a culture where people felt ownership, not burnout. A Win is a Win!

However, the bigger win was this: that experience reconfirmed for me that Value Thinking isn’t about doing more with less — it’s about doing what matters most, on purpose. That’s when I reaffirmed that leadership, like engineering, is a discipline of optimization — of aligning purpose, process, and people to create sustainable value. That Value Engineering isn’t just a cost-saving methodology — it’s a leadership philosophy.

In Part 1 of this Series, I explored how Value Engineering offers a framework for Leaders to think more strategically, collaborate more effectively, and lead with purpose. Today, I'm diving deeper into the how... because once you understand the philosophy of value thinking, the next step is putting it into action.

🔍 The Six Steps of Value Engineering (and How Leaders Can Apply Them)

Think of Value Engineering as a six-step roadmap to help you analyze, optimize, and elevate the way you lead — whether that’s managing a complex project or guiding a Team through organizational change.

1️⃣ Information Phase: Gather the Data

Every strong decision starts with understanding reality. It's a nonnegotiable that you know the arena you're playing in before you make a play. In this phase, Leaders gather the facts: Objectives, Constraints, Timelines, and Performance Metrics. 

💡 Leadership Takeaway: Before making changes, pause and ask, “What’s actually true here?” Ground yourself (and your team) in clarity before taking action.

2️⃣ Function Analysis Phase: Define What Matters

Otherwise known as the Clarity Phase, this is where you identify and define the Essential Functions, i.e., the non-negotiables that deliver value. 

💡 Leadership Takeaway: Clarify the true purpose of your projects, meetings, and initiatives. When you understand the “why,” decisions become easier and more aligned.

3️⃣ Creative Phase: Generate Possibilities

If I'm playing favorites, this is my favorite phase. It's where innovation takes center stage. Brainstorm alternative ways to achieve the same results; often at lower cost or with greater impact. 

💡 Leadership Takeaway: Encourage your Team to think freely. Create psychological safety so ideas can surface without fear of judgment or rejection.

4️⃣ Evaluation Phase: Analyze and Prioritize

Now, it’s time to weigh the options. Which ideas best balance cost, benefit, and feasibility? 

💡 Leadership Takeaway: Use data, not assumptions, to evaluate. This is where a Balanced Scorecard or AI tools shine, helping you simulate outcomes or analyze trade-offs quickly.

5️⃣ Development Phase: Turn Ideas Into Action

I like to refer to this stage as the "Moving & Shaking Phase". Select the best alternatives and build them into concrete plans with timelines, milestones, and success metrics. 

💡 Leadership Takeaway: Translate insights into strategy. Leadership is about execution as much as vision.

6️⃣ Presentation Phase: Communicate and Engage

Finally, present your recommendations with clarity, purpose, and confidence. Bring Stakeholders along with your reasoning, data, strategic plan, and enthusiasm. 

💡 Leadership Takeaway: Transparency builds trust. When your Team understands the “why” behind decisions, they’re more engaged and invested in success. Your Team can now easily see how their efforts impact the larger goals.

When Leaders consistently move through these steps, they don’t just optimize processes — they cultivate discipline, creativity, and confidence in their Leadership practice.

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🎯 Interested in getting hands-on help applying these steps with your Team? Book a Discovery Call with Dr. Cristi to discuss hosting a Value Thinking Workshop for your Team. Let's uncover the real value in not just what you do, but how you're doing it.

Looking forward to working with you to #EngineerBetterLeaders! ✨