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January 9, 2007

Character Leading

by by Sarah Sumner

Almost all of us agree that good character is the centerpiece of authentic first-rate leadership. Good character is the key to good leadership because people tend to follow whatever standard the leader sets. Recent studies in moral intelligence show that the level of morality exercised by a company's character consistently affects the bottom line. It takes good character to grapple with reality. It takes good character to treat people right. It takes good character to build unity among networks of people and causes. Thus every situation that a leader might face calls for the same three attributes: humility, courage, and honesty.

Most leaders have the willingness to improve their character, but so often they are not told how to do so. How do leaders learn to lead "above the line," so to speak? How can leaders grow in self-awareness? How can leaders learn to look inwardly? How can they keep themselves from becoming too defensive to accept the kind of feedback that they need?

These questions are important because people are important. Moreover, as research studies show, character deficits lead to financial deficits in the long run. Character deficits are very costly. Qualities such as arrogance and presumptions, cowardice and people pleasing, deception and image management all weigh companies down.

Of course, no leader wants to lead with character deficits. Yet everyone has seen character deficits play out. I have seen them play out in various studies that I conducted while earning my MBA. I have seen them play out in magazine and newspaper articles. I have seen them in my place of employment. Most vividly, I have seen them in myself.

In what ways have you seen the link between character quality and leadership quality?

Posted by Amy Simpson on January 9, 2007 5:00 PM

Comments

If you cannot gain someone's respect, you will not gain their ear. More importantly, if you display poor character, how good are your ideas, because our principles affect our proposals.

Posted By: JoHannah | January 10, 2007 6:32 AM

I've heard the saying, Charisma can get you into the door of leadership but CHARACTER is the only thing that will keep you there. That is why integrity is so important. As a Ministry Leader myself I keep my heart open to God and to the people. A leader is simply a servant, one that is there to help others to be all they can be! It is our responsibility as Leaders to keep our hearts open to Christ daily and never think more highly of ourselves then we ought. We must daily put into practice the very characeristics of Christ so that we can be more like Him. The fruits of the Spirit is a great place to begin! We need the Holy Spirit to help us to be the servant leaders that will glorify God and bless people. Quality comes out of good character so we must link our minds and hearts with GOD daily through prayer, the study and application of the Word and by yielding myself to the power of the Holy Spirit each day. CHARACTER DOES COUNT!!!

Posted By: Lisa | March 2, 2007 8:42 PM

I disagree with Lisa. Charisma can get you in and keep you in-despite the character! As long as you are "successful" in whatever the goal is, character doesn't really seem to matter too much in many churches. I have seen pastors do better "spin" that the average non-believer could ever think. Pastors who have specifically tailored their information to their audience, able to see what people want to hear and tell them, able to lead effective but without character. Unfortunately, leadership skills can be completely devoid of character. I often think that is why the Jesus's disciples were such a motley crew-no one would have chosen them as pastor or even elder material but Jesus knew who they could become with his love and grace. So in my own "leadership" life, I desperately try to surround myself with people who are very truthful to me- and help me on my journey of grace. IT is not easy, leadership implicitly moves you int o a new "society", whether at church or work. Character keeps you on the discipleship road.

Posted By: trisha | March 6, 2007 1:43 PM

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