Character

What is it?

If we ask our friends and family to describe our character, we’ll likely hear a different answer to what our work colleagues might say. We might want our character to be consistent and be effective with all people and in various situations. Some important questions might be:

  • What is my character and why?

  • How could I evolve my character?

  • Where and how does my character show up in how I operate as a leader?

Traits define a person's behavior, thoughts, and feelings in different situations. These traits are often considered to be stable and consistent over time, although they can also be influenced by experiences and environmental factors.

Research suggests that effective leaders are predisposed to have certain character traits, for instance Optimism, Perseverance, Assertiveness, Work Ethic, Creativity, EQ, Integrity, Adaptability, Resilience and Vision.

Some books that can stimulate us on how we want to lead and be seen to lead:

  1. "The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life" by Alice Schroeder - This biography tells the story of Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors and business leaders of all time. It offers insights into his investment philosophy, personal life, and the key decisions that have shaped his career

  2. "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson - This biography provides a detailed account of the life and career of Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc. It explores his innovative ideas, management style, and the impact of his work on the technology industry

  3. "The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon" by Brad Stone - This book tells the story of Jeff Bezos and the rise of Amazon, one of the most successful companies in modern times. It offers insights into Bezos' management style, entrepreneurial vision, and the strategies that have made Amazon such a dominant force in e-commerce

  4. "Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike" by Phil Knight - This memoir tells the story of Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike, one of the most successful sports apparel companies in the world. It explores his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges he faced, and the lessons he learned along the way

  5. "Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future" by Ashlee Vance - This biography provides a detailed account of the life and career of Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, Tesla Motors, and several other innovative companies. It explores his entrepreneurial vision, management style, and the impact of his work on the technology industry

How might you develop it?

Developing good character for leadership requires a combination of self-reflection, personal development, and practical application. Here are some steps you can take to develop good character for leadership:

  1. Reflect on your values and beliefs: Take some time to reflect on your personal values and beliefs. What kind of person do you want to be? What kind of leader do you want to be? This will help you to identify the character traits that are most important to you. We might use some tools like the Values in Action Inventory

  2. Identify areas for improvement: Be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses. Identify the areas where you need to improve your character and focus your efforts on developing those traits.

  3. Seek feedback: Ask for feedback from others about your character and leadership style. This can help you to gain insight into how others perceive you and identify areas for improvement. I use 360 survey tools (for breadth of insight) and stakeholder interviews (for depth of insight)

  4. Read books and attend workshops: Reading books and attending workshops on leadership development can help you to gain new insights and develop practical skills for improving your character and leadership abilities.

  5. Practice self-discipline: Developing good character requires self-discipline and self-control. Practice setting goals, managing your time effectively, and staying focused on your priorities.

  6. Lead by example: Good character is demonstrated through your actions, not just your words. Lead by example and demonstrate the character traits that you want to develop in others.

I find Character to be one of the most frequent topics covered in coaching leaders. There is who we have been, who we are, who people think we are, and who we want to be as a leader – to be effective and also authentic to ourselves is often the important pursuit.