Jul

27

Character sets the foundation for leadership

Filed Under Leadership Practices, Personal Leadership 

Leadership can never be divorced from the individual. And as a leader, you cannot impart what you do not possess. This is why “the main ingredient of good leadership is character”…

“The main ingredient of good leadership is good character. This is because leadership involves conduct and conduct is determined by values.” - Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf

Whilst many place value in titles and positions, it’s behaviour that wins people’s trust and respect. One of the foundational leadership principle is that leaders need to model the behaviours and attitudes which they expect from others. The example set by leaders are most powerful when grounded in values and when leaders live their values in their own authentic manner. When is comes to values they are most effectively demonstrated by your behaviour, words count, but not nearly as much as your deeds.

 

Good leaders lead from the front. They take the initiative to go first. People follow a person, before they buy into a strategy and plan. People need more than grand idea. They need to seen the idea lived in the flesh.

 

  • Do you set the example by aligning your values with your actions?
  • Do you lead from the front?

 

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Comments

3 Responses to “Character sets the foundation for leadership”

  1. d a morton on July 30th, 2008 0:54

    I fundamentally agree but I have a few questions for clarification. How are you defining character? Does it somehow include vision? If not, where does one lead to without vision? Is the role of vision in your version of leadership thrusted upon the leader you speak of?

  2. DCO Weekend Reader - 8/1/2008 on August 1st, 2008 12:56

    [...] Character sets the foundation for Leadership.  True enough.  I love the statement “you cannot impart what you do not possess.” [...]

  3. Desmond Osokpor on September 5th, 2008 17:19

    Character is actually the personality of an individual. it is the image of a person. a man said character is what a man is in the dark. I believe if one has a good character he or she has begun the work of leadership.

    thanks for this creative act! lots more

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