Character: Is It Necessary In Leadership? (Part One)
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Word count: 1000
Summary: One element of leadership that many leaders ignore or
neglect is character. Is it a necessary ingredient in
leadership? The author answers the question with the challenging
observation that character can actually drive leadership
results.
Character: Is It Necessary In Leadership? (Part One) By Brent
Filson
We know character when we see it, but what exactly is it? How do
we define it? What role does it play in our getting results as
leaders? What role does character play in our careers? In this
two part article, I'll explore these questions and give tips on
using character to get results and build your career. A key
function of character in leadership is to engender trust in
people, and the function of their trust is to have them take
action for results. Few leaders come to grips with the
challenges of character and so miss great job and career
opportunities. Let's start with its root, which comes from a
Greek word, "kharakter", a chisel or marking instrument for
metal or stone. Our character, then, is our mark engraved into
something enduring. We can mold mannerisms, but we must chisel
our character. Of course, we don't carry around a stone or a
sheet of metal marked with our "character". The enduring thing
is the aggregate of the traits and features that form our
apparent individual nature. "Apparent" is the operative word.
Our character exists not only in and of itself, but also as an
appearance to others. The fact that character exists both in us
and in the minds of other people holds a powerful leadership
lesson. To begin to understand what character is all about in
leadership, describe five of the best leaders in history. Then,
list three to five character traits that made each one the best.
Describe five of the worst leaders in history, and list three to
five character traits that made each one the worst. Now make the
same lists for the people in your industry and your own
organization. Did you learn something new about leadership and
character? What did you learn? I emphasize new because, in
identifying elements that compose character, we come to
understand the thinking processes that help us form character
judgments. Because we commonly make snap judgments about people,
we must be aware of how and why we make those judgments, so we
can clarify and make better use of them in our leadership. The
ultimate character we must be concerned with, of course, is our
own. Our character influences our leadership, and through our
leadership, our careers. Few leaders make the connection between
career and character in this way, let alone do something about
it. Your doing so will give you a tremendous advantage in your
career. We know that it's much harder to see our own character
than for us to see the character of others. At this point,
however, it's unnecessary to try to understand what your
character actually is. You need only realize that, for purposes
of leadership, your character is forged in values and manifested
in relationships. Values are the qualities that spur action.
Moreover, values are tied to emotions. We feel strongly about
the values we hold and look to others to hold, and because of
such feelings, we're usually acting on our values in one way or
another. Look at the character of the leaders you described. You
probably described values