Reflect on your greatest heroes and heroines, your most inspirational role models. If you are blessed, the list includes your parents. Perhaps a great teacher, professor, coach, your first “real” boss, manager or leader who inspired you.
Leaders encourage us to grow, test our limits and provide us with challenges and nourishment for our minds and spirits. Leaders stay the course regardless of the intensity of the storm (a bad financial quarter, increased competition or quality issues). They are, for all of us, a beacon of hope!
We are all keenly aware of the world we live in. It contains an overload of information, noise, stress and uncertainty. Yet we tend to react positively to challenges, and to travel a life journey toward achieving our goals, keeping the internal fire of hope and joy alive in us and in others. True leaders travel with us. They shelter us, protect us, and yes, push us to be better. A true sign of character!
Leaders demonstrate their character in many ways – through their choice of words, reactions to stressful situations, when their ego is under siege and above all, when their behavior is under fire!
As a life-long student of human behavior and leadership, I feel the most important characteristic of “character leadership” is to show respect for the dignity of the human person. Respect is the foundation upon which relationships are built and maintained, both in professional life and in personal relationships. Being a leader of character requires great courage! It demands leading with integrity, principle and not watering down your values or those of the organization.
Character Leadership
Leaders are driven by a quest for personal authenticity and the belief that we all have a natural desire for healthy self-fulfillment. Authentic leaders are the same person in every circumstance. They encourage others to be authentic and to be responsible for the choices they make. Living an authentic life involves striving to determine life’s meaning and seeking our purpose in life. Pretty heavy stuff. Character leaders assist us in this discovery process.
Curiosity
Character leaders have an insatiably curious approach to life and an unrelenting quest for continuous learning. In return, they stoke the flame in each of us. They also ask great questions that engage us in thought, thus broadening our views of the business world.
Character leaders have a commitment to test knowledge and to share their experiences with others. They are quite persistent and have a refreshing willingness to share their mistakes. They are almost humble in their use of the power and authority entrusted to them. They help us learn and to find wisdom in our experiences.
“Obstacles do no bend me” and “Every obstacle is destroyed though rigor” – Leonardo da Vinci
Creativity
Character leadership encourages others to utilize their imaginations, to be playful yet disciplined and to be iconoclastic yet traditional. It is more than okay to walk on the creative side of the street. Take a look around our industry and see the creative ideas and products that influence the American motorist on a daily basis. We all need to look for and find the time for those “Aha” moments. Being inspired allows us to dream more than others think is practical. The pressures of today’s business world leave precious little time to think, let alone be innovative. Character leaders help us find the time and stay in the moment!
Trust
Character leaders display a keen willingness to lead by being vulnerable. They let go of control and power. They show trust in others, and involve them in the challenges of the day. Emotion is a critical part of being a character leader! It is impossible to be authentic without showing emotion. Honest anger is a good thing, if it is directed at a situation not a person. Expressing anger is a lot different than acting in anger.
The Unknown
Character leaders guide us to keep an open mind during times of uncertainty. This unlocks our creative and innovative potential.
Does your organization nurture a culture that embraces uncertainty, paradox and ambiguity? In others words, is change encouraged? There is always conflict when creativity is introduced!
The Future
We all look to leaders for their view of the future. It is paramount that leaders articulate “their vision” of what lies ahead. Employees have dreams and aspirations. The character leader articulates the future by blending the three distinct aspects of an organizational – purpose, mission and value proposition.
The mission of character leadership is:
· To ensure that the right/difficult questions are being asked
· To create a culture of learning and questioning – and that mistakes and risk-taking are a key part of the road to success. The questioner will not be punished for rising to the issue.
· To lead creative tensions in the organization and to help others embrace the paradoxes of life.
Character leadership is a passion for inspiration and wisdom and to eliminate fear and uncertainty in the organization. It is to earn the right to be trustworthy every day. To indeed be the beacon of light in today’s business storm.
“Facta, non-verba” (Translated from Latin to English: “Deeds, not words!”)
