Jan

27

Building the character of our future leaders…

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The Center for Creative Leadership newsletter had an interesting article "Don’t Give Up On Leadership Character" discussing the development of leadership character. Character a critical foundation of great leadership, in fact, character is the hallmark of all great leaders. Character is important as sound character inspires trust….

"People of genius are admired. People of wealth are envied. People of power are feared. But only people of character are trusted." — Arthur Friedman

Programmes that focus on leadership development usually over emphasise the development of various leadership techniques and methods, with little or no attention given to the development of character. It’s no wonder that one of the most common leadership failures today, are failures of leadership character, and not a failure of technique or method. So how do we ensure that we are developing the character of those we mentor? By incorporating the five E’s of character development into our programmes and mentorship…

The Five E’s Of Character Development

It’s the responsibility of leaders to create the environment that encourages the development of character. The article recommends that the following five E’s, to be considered as a means for character development:

  1. Example: Leadership by example leverages the natural human tendency to emulate the behavior of individuals held in high esteem. A leader’s behavior sets the standard for the entire organization.
  2. Education: Leaders and organizations should find ways to discuss the importance of character, the potential pressures on and challenges to character, and the short- and long-term implications of a lapse of character. Education might include discussions of case studies and scenarios that involve difficult moral or ethical choices.
  3. Environment: The organization’s culture is shaped and developed over time by the actions and values of people in the organization. Senior leaders can establish an environment that is open to character development by creating a clear, detailed, practical set of organizational values and by ensuring that everyone in the organization lives those values.
  4. Experience: Senior leaders should ensure that high-potential employees are given "stretch" jobs and assignments requiring them to make difficult choices, which can help them better understand and develop character. These experiences also provide good indications of the character strengths and weaknesses of those who might become the future leaders of the organization.
  5. Evaluation: Clear expectations regarding patterns of behavior need to be established and communicated. Leaders can then use feedback sessions and performance evaluations to gauge their progress, reviewing specific instances when their character was challenged and either stood fast or cracked.

This list is a great means of creating an environment that encourages the development of a person’s character. Remember, that….

"The glory of great men should always be measured by the means they have used to acquire it." - Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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One Response to “Building the character of our future leaders…”

  1. How Do You Teach Character? | Uncle Joe's Leadership Blog on February 7th, 2008 8:32

    [...] Practice of Leadership has a post on Building the Character of Our Future Leaders.  The 5 E’s they advocate (Example, Education, Environment, Experience and Evaluation) are [...]

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