Why Leaders Fail
Leadership is a matter of character before skill. In other words, it’s about who you are.
Fakers are exposed, eventually.
Fake leaders – those with skills but lacking character – inevitably sink. Skills might get you there but character keeps you there.
Mark Miller, author of, The Heart of Leadership, says, “If you don’t demonstrate leadership character, your skills and your results will be discounted, if not dismissed.”
“Without character no one cares about your skills.”
Character:
Mark says leaders with character hunger for wisdom.
You might think the hunger for wisdom is about knowledge and information. But Mark suggests the hunger for wisdom is a matter of character.
Mark didn’t put it this bluntly, but I will.
Leaders who don’t seek wisdom lack character.
Leaders who lack character don’t seek wisdom because they don’t need wisdom. They already know.
Assessment:
The Heart of Leadership includes a self-assessment. Here’s the “hunger for wisdom section:
- I see my personal development as one of my highest priorities.
- My calendar reflects the high priority I place on the pursuit of wisdom.
- I invest time on a regular basis with people who help me grow.
- Self-evaluation and reflection play an active role in my pursuit of wisdom.
The core quality of leaders with wisdom is they seek wisdom.
Say:
Perhaps you bear the burden of knowledge – you know too much and learn too little. Most of us do. Try saying, “I could be wrong,” the next time you’re spewing wisdom on innocent bystanders. Feels weird doesn’t it?
Ask:
- What am I missing?
- Am I seeking outside opinions?
- Am I open to have my ideas challenged?
Leader fail for lack of character. Developing character is a matter of repeating behaviors.
What character qualities are essential to successful leadership?
Mark Miller’s:
Blog: Great Leaders Serve
Twitter: @leadersserve
I think the hunger for wisdom that a great leader has, is a sign of humility. An essential component of leadership. That’s where many leaders are lacking. Humility means that you rely on others and need to trust those around you or even beneath you. Searching for wisdom means learning from those around you and acknowledging others strengths.
Great post.
Powerful connection. Thanks!
As a sign I have on my desk says “Education is going from cocksure ignorance to thoughtful uncertainty”. Leaders acknowledge the need to learn, especially from others, and are also willing to make the hard decisions using that knowledge, knowing that they may, in the end, not have done the right thing. At that point true leadership becomes the willingness to say “I failed”-not “it’s someone else’s fault”.
Honesty and Trustworthiness are some of the top character qualities I appreciate in leaders. It’s at least a good foundation.
Agree… honesty and trustworthiness are foundational. You can’t get in the game without them.
A thirst for wisdom fueled by a commitment to lifelong learning will equip leaders for whatever lies ahead. A leader does not have all the answers and must be open to input, new ideas, contrarian opinions, and views. A leader must develop that network to learn with and from.
Thanks Matt… I really like the “learn WITH and FROM” idea. Nice.
It is all about a personality and attitude. Lots of people have the skills but don’t know how to use them . Knowing how to deal with people in the right manner is one of the most important issues.
Thanks Raja… people skills definitely matter.
Great message today Dan!!!
I am in complete agreement with blunt.
Why beat around the bush? Deal with the real issue now rather than later.
I have found for myself the only time I am upset with anyone being straight to the point is if I do not have an answer I am comfortable with.
It is my lousy answer, not their direct question that causes my angst.
Took me a very long time to understand that and stop blaming and start maturely being response-able. Still find it challenging.
Great stuff today, thanks.
SP, hunger for wisdom…I call it incurably curious!!!
Thanks Scott.
I hear you saying that my answer blocks my pursuit of wisdom and I don’t like feeling like I don’t know.
Leaders with character get comfortable not knowing because they are seeking wisdom. In that sense, not knowing is an asset.
Thanks Dan,
Very wise insight, thanks for sharing that.
One big problem I have is not not knowing, but what I think I know that just ain’t so! Big occasional problem!!!
That is what having wise and loving counsel to talk over stuff and hold me accountable is for!!!!!!!
CYA, really great stuff today, thanks again.
Scott
Essential leader character qualities: integrity, self awareness, authentic, respectful, candour, relationship builder, inspirer, open, curious
Great list Lenna. One of the qualities it took me a long time to learn was self-awareness. Still learning that one.
Having and practicing humility is the first step to self-evaluation and thence to change and growth. Great post today!
Thanks John. The connection of humility to self-evaluation is powerful. I also find that honest self-evaluation helps me develop humility.
Good leaders have great deal of confidence in themselves and their answers, but great leaders know that at any moment they could be dead wrong and need the assistance of those around them. Being humble enough to accept your own “humanness” helps leaders grow and learn about themselves.
Thanks Tim.
I’m glad you added the idea that good leaders have confidence in their ideas. Lack of confidence can be deadly for leaders. The trick is to have confidence and openness at the same time.
Seeking wisdom wholeheartedly is making oneself vulnerable. I can make my calendar look like I’m seeking wisdom, but if I’m not vulnerable enough to receive it. It’s just another act of arrogance.
Leaders fail because they aren’t willing to be honest. Most often they’re not honest with themselves. They cover up things inside due to fear and insecurity. In that darkness the cancer of the character thrives. What we see as failure is a removing of the mask and what has been going on underneath is revealed to all.
The harsh irony is that a lack of vulnerability has led to full exposure.
Thanks for your great articles!
KaPow… glad you brought the term “vulnerability to the conversation”
Great post Dan! One way leaders demonstrate their character is by aligning their words, actions and behaviors. Not doing so can lead to confusion, frustration and lack of trust.
Thanks Phil,
I feel the word consistency.
To lead you you must remember that people may not remember what you taught them but they will always remember how you made them feel.
Thanks Eric. I love that idea from Maya Angelou. It’s so powerful
it seems like this implies leaders are “born” not made. I would say that some like Steve Jobs would never be accused of character.
Maybe seeking knowledge instead of wisdom would be more appropriate.
Thanks Bill,
I heard John Maxwell joke, “I never met a leader who wasn’t born.” 🙂
Glad you joined in.
Dear Dan,
A great post on leadership. Wisdom and character are foundations of true leadership. I agree and appreciate that those who lack character may achieve what they want through their skills, but those who have character definitely achieve what they want. It might take time but ultimately they win.
I have learned that mission of leader should be above all priorities. And bigger goal creates bigger obstacle in achieving it. Great leaders have unshakable willpower that help them to sail through circumstances and situations. External environment pose challenges and create opportunities as well to achieve goals. Generally people with smaller goals get deviated by small gains and thus miss the bigger goal. And those who are passionate about bigger goal, sacrifice small gains on the way.
Hence, I think one quality of successful leadership is seeing unseen. They see what others can not see. Successful leaders imagine to create better surroundings, better society and wise people around. They are laughed at by people but they know what they know, others do not know. They believe in what they think. One of the other important component of successful leadership is “Belief”.
They march towards their mission with strong belief and positive hope. They turn hope into reality.
Thanks Ajay,
Here’s a nugget I’m taking from your comment. “Bigger goals create bigger obstacles” … love that.
Thanks for the post! I desire for the wisdom but sometimes it’s the timei lack!
Thanks Jennifer…here’s to the pursuit.
I agree but how do you know if you’re a person of character? It would seem to come down to your guiding principles.
Thanks Calvin,
I think guiding principles are important and in the end character is a matter of repeated behaviors. What I repeatedly do tells me who I am AND forms my character at the same time.
I agree with John. You must humble yourself to be in a position to learn and lead effectively.
Thanks Keith
To be a leader needs integrity and character to allow trust to blossom. The journey takes us through self confidence, to self assessment, and finally the strength to attain self-actualisation.
It’s this journey that allows a leader to shed the weakness of wanting to “always be right” and “showing how clever I am”. When you let your team see that you are prepared to learn. and appreciate the value others bring, you unlock their development … Inspire them to grow … Show them how to lead others. All at once you’ve multiplied your influence by engaging, inspiring and value those around you.
Thanks Robert,
I really appreciate how you lay out the journey.
Nice post, but remember the distinction between knowledge and wisdom. We actually should be seeking knowledge, as wisdom is the ability to assimilate knowledge and how to act on it in a good way. To many have lots of knowledge, but not the wisdom to use that knowledge in a redeeming way. Wisdom often comes with age as it becomes the weaving of knowledge and experience. As previous posts have commented, wisdom also has humbleness associated with it.
Thanks Bart,
Personally, and I’m not speaking for Mark, I take wisdom as skillful living. I think we agree. One can know something and not be wise. Frankly, wisdom isn’t about intelligence.
I believe that every day presents an opportunity for learning. Unfortunately, many confuse wisdom with knowledge. Wisdom is knowing where to find the answers while knowledge is having them.
An apple has three choices: wait to get picked, fall to the ground, or keep growing. As leaders, we need to keep growing and every day presents an opportunity to do so.
If knowledge is power, then wisdom is sharing it.
Cheers!
Thanks Redge,
So if I want to get picked, keep growing. 🙂
You got it! Have a great day Dan. Cheers!
Speaking as an Assistant Basketball Coach on the Division 3 College level, nothing is more important tnan character. The old saying is, “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” It all starts in recruiting-building the relationship and trust. That’s why I don’t like recruiting via email and text-too impersonal. Both sides have to get a feel for the other as recruiting usually starts with phone conversations. When a potential student athlete visits your school, you must show that you’re real-no hidden agendas, everything out in the open.
Thanks Brad,
Love the personal-connection element that you add… Character is understood in relationship…
Leaders fail because of failure to listen fully. No emailing, texting, writing, responding during a conversation. Be PRESENT!
TS
Thanks for reminding us of this Tanya. Too easy to “zone out” or be preoccupied with trying to think what you’re going to say next.
Listen ….
Leaders fail because of lack of vision/purpose. When people lead just because they can it generates a lack of fulfilment whose evidence will soon be seen and felt.
Leaders fail because of failure to listen fully. No emailing, texting, writing or responding to others during a conversation. Be PRESENT! 🙂
Yes!! when you admit the possibility of incomplete knowledge.. you allow others to buy into the conversation.. and allow them the privilege of having a say… Empowerment..
Leaders should allways have complete integrety in their Projects.
I really enjoy your Blog Dan. I have been using your ABC’s of leadership weekly with my team, a new letter each week. Thank you for your leadership.
Boy, Dan, I hope he didn’t use the first cycle of ABC’s…twas a bit loose back then…
I’ll say!
Man Everything you said its on point, what you do when know ones looking, character as a leader is crucial in any aspect of life, its build upon trust and honesty
Much like what John Wooden used to say: “It’s what you learn after you think you know everything that makes the difference.”
…very much appreciate all the thought you put into sharing nuggest of wisdom with us each day! Thank you!
The thing that stuck out to me in this post is that leaders need to keep growing. Lack of growth leads to lack of character. Thanks for the post.
Thanks Oylernick, It’s a journey! 🙂
Perfectly said. What’s worse is if a leader’s character changes on daily basis so they themselves are obviously not aware of the need to improve.
I’ve had the opportunity to watch so many leaders in my 11 years of teaching. The ones we follow are those that we believe in and understand the motives behind their words and actions. If the leaders message is unclear it’s much harder to get the buy-in. It isn’t until you become a leader yourself, that you can truly experience the lens to look through to inspire change, and growth, in others.
Leaders need a passionate love for people. The old saying is true: “people don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” To effectively influence (lead) people, they need to trust you have their best interests in mind. They need to know you love them and all the characteristics of love are supporting them (self sacrifice, lack jealousy, no record of wrongs, etc).
Great post Dan. You highlight such an important distinction between character and skill. All too often people with technical skills are promoted to leadership positions without the necessary leadership skills. We refer to this as the Peter’s principle, when people have been promoted beyond their level of competence.
You raise a much more subtle, but even more significant challenge for organizational stewards- to distinguish between skill and character.
When assessing an individual’s readiness or fitness to lead, managerial skills are often favored over character. In my experience skills are much easier to teach than character, and the former without the latter, often causes more harm than good.
Thanks for calling our attention to this essential leadership condition, and for cautioning us not to overlook character in favor of skill. Have a great day! Lori
Integrity in both word and deed are essential characteristics of a leader
Dan, again some great insights, thanks for your work and for presenting Mark Millers ideas. I will certainly dig deeper into that.
Humility is an essential characteristic to good leadership, Dan. We must be open to the possibility that we don’t have all the answers, or even all the right answers. This also requires the essential, but poorly taught ability to actually qnd authetically listen to people. Leaders ahoils be lifetime learners.
Self serving agenda #Boom
Transparency is key when it comes to leadership. It allows for leaders to see themselves but importantly it allows others to see that they are not perfect but yet a work in progress. It shows that no one person has all the answers and it reminds us that learning is is essential to becoming better.
Lack of character, vision, and conviction.
Vulnerability is key to great leadership. Without it, it’s near impossible to find wisdom. Vulnerability, leads to courage, which leads to wisdom. As Brene Brown says “Leadership without vulnerability breeds to disengagement”. If you’re disengaged, how do you build your character?
Great post, Dan!
Being a leader is challenging. Sadly, many want to lead, but don’t know how to do it. I want to be a better leader. I need to understand humility and assertiveness better, if I am going to lead well. Unfortunately, the only course available is life-lesson.
May God be gracious to me as I learn to lead.
Transparency is key to leadership. It allows for others to see you but more importantly for you to see yourself. It reminds us that no one person has all the answers and that learning is a process for a lifetime .
If character equals integrity then I’m on board. As for wisdom, my feeling is that the thirst for knowledge and the application of that knowledge lead to wisdom. To me, it’s all about testing the knowledge, learning by making mistakes and having the integrity to admit them and move on – that will make you wise.
Excellent post. I believe great leaders are both Bold and Humble. At first glance, the two might seem to contradict each other, but great leaders know how to “flex” both qualities to have a multiplying effect. Boldness on its own will lead to the challenges mentioned on today’s post. But humility without boldness means a leader that shortchanges the difference he/she can make. I would be interested Dan in other ‘multipliers’ that you believe great Leaders have.
“My calendar reflects the high priority I place on the pursuit of wisdom” was a great reminder to “put your money where your mouth is.”
I also echo Tanya’s comments to listen and BE PRESENT. Spending all your time on your smartphone, while in the company of others, doesn’t attest to your smartness.
I appreciate the distinction between knowledge and wisdom and find that it’s an ongoing balancing act – sometimes I can get too self-reflective about my leadership and need to remember to *apply* my insights, knowledge and wisdom both…while also keeping that open mind and asking “what might I be missing?” Really, a journey far more than a destination!! Nice post (as always).
Being a leader is a naturally continuous improvement process. This way, you as a leader, will always seek for the wisdom, as you cannot be confortable without the challenge of being better.
Excellent reminder that our calendars must show the prioirty of growth. Our calendar reflects our priorities as much as our checkbook register. Thanks
Occasionally a leader is struck by an insight that validates and confirms what that leader was already doing intuitively. This post will strike many leaders with character in that way because humility is implied in the characteristics described, meaning that leaders with character may not realize they are wisdom seekers!
“Leaders that don’t seek wisdom lack character” – that statement will resonate with me for a long time. Thanks for the great post Dan
Character, along with integrity and honesty, are certainly the backbone of great leadership. Even old folks like me still need to develop better character. Great post, thanks for sharing.
In my junior leadership classes to boy scouts, I drive home the fact that your character and integrity are traits you cannot fake or skimp on. Those are the traits that will make you successful in life, along with the elements of the scout law, of course!
Offhand, three qualities I admire in a leader are:
1) Encourage responsible risk-taking for the sake of personal/professional growth (and learning from one’s mistakes).
2) Clearly communicate what success means to the company – specific to each job role – so each employee knows hows how they can contribute to the success of the company (and their role).
3) Recognize that each individual has a unique set different unconscious motivators that drive their actions. They cannot assume what motivates one person will equally motivate another.
I agree with earlier comments, self-awareness is a significant component of character. I’ve found the 360-feedback process to be a great tool for improving self-awareness. Enjoy the positive feedback, but to maximize its potential, you must have the character to examine negative feedback to identify real opportunity for professional and personal growth. Your topic is timely, thanks!
A legend of king Salomon features a moment when two women are fighting and claiming to be mothers of the same baby. At one point they are brought to king Salomon to solve the issue. After Solomon understood the situation he orders the baby to be cut in two so each mother could get half! Inside this very moment one of the women says “No! I’m not the real mother! You can give the whole baby to this woman: please don’t kill the baby!” Salomon rises and says – the woman who has asked us not to kill the baby is the true mother protecting her child. Give the baby to her. The end.
If I would ask king Salomon today if he thought of himself as wise, he would probably answer “getting there”. Because the moment we believe we are good enough, we have got to start again from zero.
This is my first comment ever on this blog that I love. I read it to rise wise.
During my travels, I have read a lot about the chronicles of King Solomon, more importantly his duty to the building of the temple in Jerusalem. There is a lot to be learned from the wisdom provided to King Solomon. The stages of professionalism, the application of geometry, supervision (micro and macro), strategic planning, and executing that plan percisly to name a few.
I believe great leaders are investors in people, they continuously invest in others to provide opportunity to grow and succeed and at times fail. They are great coaches too they know who to put into the game and let them play versus trying to play for the team.
I know I am re-evaluating my heart in my current role of managing people constantly and the what is next, getting hungry again in what we do as a business, but also the people I am responisble for. And that is just the work aspect, learning to lead my children and wife with character and heart and being present….it is a good time to be aware of what we are doing as leaders.
many leaders wants selfserving power. they occupy leadership positions, obviously where the benefits are, but they cant lead anyone to a better place, or better knowledge or better understanding, because they don’t care… at all.
if you are a leader and you ask yourself “why am I leading?”, “where am i leading them?” and the answer is “I want more money”, if you ask your followers “why should they work with or for you”, and the answer is “I need money”, sure there’s no good leadership, just dog eat dog and deceptive temporary subordinates. if you didn’t ask yourself such questions becouse you fear the echo, prepere to be just the next dog bitten
I would like to expand on the “I invest time on a regular basis with people who help me grow.” point. What this really means for me is paying attention to everyone I am with. Everyone has something to help me grow but it takes observation, engagement, and reflection. Another good post, Dan.
Great article – I think curiosity and integrity are essential to being a servant leader, having humility — knowing that none of us has all the information, all the answers but together we have a better, bigger picture is important. Integrity of person – words and actions that are reliable and honest; looking out for the common good in every situation; speaking truth to power.
I agree. How can one continue to lead without continuing to learn. Leadership is lifelong learning and the pursuit of wisdom. We as leaders should never presume we are better than anyone else in the room. Pnce we do we become a poor leader. We can always learn from others. Become better leaders and better people by being humble and full of grace.
Great post! John Wooden said, “Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.” A leader cannot lead well without developing relationships with those he is leading, and that takes strong character.
Outstanding……way to go Dan and Mark….keeping first things first!
Humility, integrity, passion and service jump to mind, along with being proactive – seeking understanding (as opposed to waiting for feedback or making presumptions), having a clearly articulated vision that inspires the sense of urgency and action one seeks, and taking an active role in developing your peers and direct reports (helping them reach their growth potential as well as feel self-empowered to drive their own success).
I really like this discussion today. This not only applies to leadership but to everyone! I especially liked point #3 – Spending time with people that really make your grow does not mean spending time with people who agree with you all of the time. We need those critical friends who will question us (with respect of course) and help us see a different perspective or consider something we haven’t thought about previously. That leads to self evaluation and reflection (point #4) where we invest the time in examining our decisions, motives, and results. And then we grow.
I find myself in a difficult place as a leader right now and I look to this blog for ideas and inspiration. How does one teach one’s own leaders the concepts you discuss daily? I feel like I am failing those who I lead because I am falling a part due to lack of support from those above me.
Emily: Be encouraged in the fact that what you feel now is common to all good leaders. The feeling of insufficiency and loneliness, combined with a desire to serve those you lead is a sign that you really care about their good, and are not too proud to be open to change.
It is difficult to lead from the middle, for we must both lead up and lead down. Developing a reputation for personal integrity is vital to both forms of leadership. Linking with like-minded people is a good way to bounce ideas off of them.
Best wishes for your success.
Hi Emily,
Love the passion in your comment. Your question is important. How do we get support from those above us? Here are some questions to ask yourself?
1. Are we clearly connected to organizational mission/vision/values?
2. Is the benefit for the organization obvious?
3. Do those over us feel our loyalty more than our frustration?
4. Have you discussed the things you would like to do with those above, around, and below?
5. How do those over us feel respect?
6. Have I sought advice from those above?
7. Have you created an unacceptable problem?
8. How does what you want to do connect to the fears of those above?
9. Could those most impacted by what you want to do be the ones to promote it?
10. How has the ROI been explained?
This list might get you started.
The right to teach others often begins by learning from them. Could you take a LF post to a leader and ask them how the concepts might apply to you? Sometimes people learn when they teach.
I wonder if the bottom line is to do what you can regardless of how small it is.
It’s a challenge to lead up. YOu have my best wishes for the journey.
Thanks for following up on this one Dan, definitely could feel Emily taking ownership to the heart and facing some significant walls. My glib response would be if she answers in the negative to any of your 10 questions, she should consider freshening her resume.
However, the more thoughtful approach that you suggest could reap dividends…with nuggets of motivational interviewing woven in. The leader’s response to such a healthy and helpful inquiry should clarify for her what options she may have. If their response is positive and engaged, there’s hope and opportunity for new alliances in creating a growing/learning organization.
I ask myself what does my team want/ need in a leader? What we want and need are two different things. We want someone who makes all the decisions, we need someone who considers our experiences and allows us to voice our opinions. We want someone who punishes those who we perceive to be sub par, we need someone to guide us into collaboration and find the strengths we each offer. We want someone to blame for our failures, we need someone who strives for improvement in himself and his team in a proactive way.
Ah, sad truth. Leaders get so busy trying to do leadership that they lose sight of being a leader. Being a leader begins with a choice to make a difference in and through the lives of others. Leadership begins with a choice of others to follow. Character is the fiber of wise choices.
I think that the importance of continually seeking wisdom & input grows ever stronger as workloads increase and the temptation to take the quicker of going it alone grows. Seeking wisdom from others not only increases perpective and knowledge, it also empowers the one asked
Leaders are not needed if everyone in the group has a common purpose, knows his/her role, communicates perfectly, etc. (Example: ants, schools of fish, and flocks of birds).
The fact that we need leaders at all is a sign that groups are not functioning at optimal level to achieve their purpose. Thus, leaders are simply people who help the group to achieve its common purpose in a way that they could not do without the leaders’ presence. Leadership is therefore not a status role but one of service to the organization and its goals.
The best leaders, as stated by Collins in his book “Good to Great”, are those with a passion for the organization’s goals and its people, combined with personal humility.
The work in an organization gets done mostly by its followers – not because leaders don’t work, but because there are far more followers than leaders.
Unfortunately, since we often equate leadership with status, we usually concentrate far more on improving leadership than generating effective followership.
We can extend Collins’ description of a level 5 leader to one who:
1) is a passionate steward of the organization’s purpose, its people, and its resources;
2) is humble, not in the sense of being invisible or meek, but in the sense of sublimating his/her personal status and well being to the good of the organization;
3)seeks constantly to improve the performance of the group to the place where each member becomes an optimally effective contributor to helping the group achieve its purpose;
4) models integrity and a thirst for learning in a manner that is contagious to those around him/her;
5) defends the group’s purpose, and its members against outside forces and people that would render it less effective.
Love these posts and would love to win a copy of The Heart of Leadership.
This topic is near and dear to my heart. It is interesting that all of us seem to “know” that character is at the heart of great leadership, yet I see time and again organizations hiring on the basis of ‘expertise’ and experience. Those are important, but without the ability to determine a person’s character (what they value and the ability to do the right thing, even when no one’s watching) I believe you are neglecting the ‘engine’ of the person’s true value to the organization. You won’t have a complete picture on the ‘fit’ of a person in the organization until you know their character. Often, fit is the chief determinant in whether a person succeeds or not.
“I value what you know, but i care more about who you are.”
Best…Jim
Leaders should have a servants heart. Without that, I think failure is inevitable!
I like the notion of the repeated behavior. We’ve all known someone who pretended to be something that he or she was not. They can pull it off for awhile, but eventually their true character shines through. You can’t just put on character like a new suit and take it off when it’s not comfortable. You’ve got to live in it – the longer you do, the more comfortable and natural it will be!
Leaders fail because they think more of themselves than others.
Agree. but how do you include this in the hiring process, this complete picture? I have seen lots of resumes, and people simply try to sell experience or expertise. I like to include in the interviews a complete section of personal questions which can guide me to have a better picture of the person, but from an interview point of view, you cannot get the picture of “who you are”.
Great topic. I also believe the character of the leader creates the originization/team culture. If you cant trust the leader, the culture will suffer. Likewise if you have a leader worthy of trust, you will have better engagement leading to employees willing to give discretionary effort and better overall results and more fullfilling place to work. Thanks
I agree with you, and totally believe in being growth oriented and being open to feedback. Both so critical to leadership. But how does a leader learn to respect themselves and believing in themselves and then translate that into having the character to do this for others.. It is a deep change and if one’s mental models were set up by critical or rejecting parents it takes deep work.
Honesty, Communication and Attitude are a few key leadership skills that I focus on. I feel that these are essential to developing as a leader and will help me greatly on the path to success. I’m open to other essential qualities that anyone suggests.
I’ve been asked why I have so many self-help books that I read and are dog-eared. Because these ‘soft skills’ are the things that you always need to know and stay up with. The ‘hard skills’ of your job you need to only learn only once.
Vulnerability
Character isn’t relative to the world, but to the self.
It’s not a place, but a path.
Mistakes are stones used to build that path.
I believe that leaders often fail because they honestly don’t believe they can make a difference. First and foremost, leaders must believe they can have a positive impact on others.
For an interesting conversation, ask a teenager – “What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?”
A fail isn’t a failure unless we fail to learn from it.
This is a great reminder for me today. The team I work with seems to be struggling a bit and I was asking myself this morning, “What should I do?” I love personal development, but it is easy to move into that space where I subconsciously think I’ve done enough of that for now! I’m hungry for more and it will ultimately benefit my team when I pursue more personal growth. Thanks!
Great post. I find that as a leader I struggle to take a step back on occasion and get out of the details. The serenity prayer often helps me put things into perspective. I need to ask my team how they are feeling more than I do.
There is a close connection between being vulnerable and having a willingness to occassionally make a mistake, then learning from the mistake to gain wisdom. Ben Franklin said it best, “The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart.
Over the past years, I have come to believe great leaders cannot be self-serving, including having an agenda to elevate while leaving everyone behind who assisted with their greatness. Personally, I have been searching for wisdom all my life. I have trusted, depended, supported, provided, and gave my all to leaders whom I felt I will like to emulate. I call these people mentors and I was an OUTSATNDING follower; nevertheless, during the last moments of discovery, I always realize there is more work to be done than just emulating an idol. I have flaws, but I constantly try to minimize the gap between success and stupidity. Stupidity is that place where you blame everyone for the lack of success while remaining uneducated in a way that deprives you, your family, and friends the joys of eating the fruits of their labors. I know these people because I was one of them.
The character qualities that are essential for successful leadership comes from within. It is more than just being who you are. It is putting a conscience effort forward to care about the success of others before your own. Anything else will be defined as self-serving. To emulate another is the easy part. The most difficult part is interpreting the significance of character and applying it within the boundaries of your personal and professional/business lives. I have been struggling with this for a very long time now, but at least I know it exists. In closing, successful leadership can only be defined by the person(s) you are leading.
Love it. Love it. Love it. The emphasis on character has been neglected far too long in leadership. I love the simple idea of mentioning “I could be wrong” exhibiting humility and an every present pursuit of knowledge and growth. Thank you.
One can only be a leader if and only if there are others willing to follow. Great leaders serve their followers by listening and acting with compassion, empathy, and transparency to define the shared vision, goals and objectives.
I would love to read your thoughts sometime on balancing the need to acknowledge your own power and express confidence with the need to be humble and value everyone. Obviously, there is a theme among these of the need to tread lightly, but I see so many leaders who only seem to be able to do one or the other. I love your comment about how our calendars reflect our values, but I struggle with that too… balancing growth with work and having enough time for myself and my family to stay sane and human.
Love the quote “Without character no one cares about your skills.” – So much truth there!
I would absolutely love to read this book. Great work Dan!
It’s the wisdom that drives the knowledge. Without wisdom it doesn’t matter what you know.
True..
As a teen, sometimes I’d ride my bicycle for many miles without a destination in mind. (By default, it was always back home.) Family and friends would ask if I got lost that day. A cheery “No” was my reply. Puzzled, they asked why. My response: You can’t get lost if you don’t know where you’re going.” Exploration, in this case by bicycle, was the joy and the experience at the same time. Once I realized I didn’t need to know everything about something, life became more enriching, I found a balance between self-discovery and interacting with others.
I’m a firm believer that character is necessary to lead. As others have shared, people are not going to follow you if you’re not worth following. Part of that is being a person of character. To me that means owning up to my mistakes and shortcomings. It also means admitting when I do not know the best course of action, but seeking out a good course of action. Lastly, when I’m sure of something, I need to get others on board and share why I’m so sure of it. Keeping people in the dark is not going to help anyone.
This looks like great and challenging material thanks for being willing to share it with others! God bless!!!
Leaders FAIL Because They: Don’t listen but act like they are; expect respect but don’t respect others; Look at their employees as robots & not people; Push down instead of pulling up; Are selfish in many ways; Have no vision or can’t cast it properly; Chase the dollar; Worry about cost and not what’s right.
Leaders can only lead their teams as far as they can grow themselves. True leaders pursue growth and wisdom.
This is a great post! I agree as leaders we must seek wisdom. Essential to that are the components of integrity, responsibility, and accountability. We need to be mindful of who we are when nobody is watching, because someone is ALWAYS watching. We have to accept responsibility, part of that is admitting when we are wrong. And as leaders we must find ways to remain accountable.
Dan – I can not say it better than the great book – The Bible. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10
I was really surprised to see nothing mentioned about the impact of conflict on character and wisdom. It’s in conflict that a person’s true character is revealed. Under pressure, will a leader have integrity, courage, humility, etc? Or will they lie, cheat and steal just to protect their own authority and status? What positive changes occur in a leader as a result of failure and learning? How do they react to failure, period? I think a leader of good character and wisdom is one that prepares themselves for the conflict, how they will behave, how they will answer, etc., so that they know how to react when (not if) it comes.
I couldn’t agree more. The greatest weakness I’ve observed in leaders who fail–or are failing–is lack of self-reflection and sincerity/ genuineness. Thanks for this post.
Wisdom is the practical application of knowledge. You have to apply what you know or your knowledge does you no good. For instance most know that we need to exercise regularly to maintain good health, but how many of us apply that knowledge?
Humility is also essential, without humility you have arrogance and a stubborn determination to prove that you are always right. If a leader is humble he/she is willing to listen and accept their own shortcomings. With this acknowlegement comes a willingness to change and learn wisdom. Full circle.
Thanks for the great insights, Dan! I am really learning a lot from your blog. I have a question for you. I am a leader in an organization that doesn’t trust leaders. We are given responsibilities without the authority need to fulfill them. I find I spend a lot of time demonstrating that I need authority to fulfill my duties and that I can be trusted. What would you say to someone who has the responsibility to lead others but is not granted the necessary authority?
This post brings to mind the great debate regarding leadership vs. management. Being a great leader and a great manager requires very different skills and priorities, and some argue that it is impossible to be both a good leader and manager simultaneously.
I’d be very interested to read what Miller thinks about leadership vs. management, particularly in terms of wisdom acquisition.
Authentic relationships matter. Without the commitment to honesty, growth & production cannot be sustained. Without relationships, you have no mentor, no coaching, no one will go the extra mile to achieve something big.
Sounds like a great read!
Fake is fake any day and everyday. We spot it others and sometimes even shine a light looking for it. It easier to look at others verses ourselves. Directing character towards understanding our own thoughts and motives is so important. Being truthful to the person in the mirror is a good beginning
“Leaders who don’t seek wisdom lack character!”-BOOM! Thanks for your insights, Dan.
This reminds me of another saying…
“Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding. “
Quite honestly, leaders who think they know it all (don’t seek out wisdom) will not only eventually fail, but nobody ever really likes them either. People won’t want to listen to someone they don’t like/ respect, no matter what the reason.
Rather than servant leadership, try shepherd leadership:
– Observe everything
– Overlook a lot
– Challenge some
– Encourage all
There are two perspective to judge the leadership – one why leader fails and other why leader succeed. Either way it describe the innate quality of a leader. there is no doubt that the personality can not be faked but some of the time, some people are so expert that they are able to fake their personality to derive the gain and in the process they do not mind in crushing the other person. this is what happening in the corporate world. Because of some sort of connections and proximity wrong people got up on the ladder and they create the same kind of culture in the system. but getting to the top because of connection etc does not actually make you a leader and where they get failed. laedership is a combination of skill, wisdom, participation and getting the things done by people working with him. A sensible leader often evaluate themselves with their with benchmark and ultimately they are able to grow themselves and their people. True Leadership is a process of building up one’s character over a period of time, it is process of discovering oneself.
Right on…leadership is about climbing the character ladder which involves trust, vulnerability and relationships with others. Humility is trusting God and others with me. From here we can grow as a leader.
It’s okay to be vulnerable and real in front of your team. With the speed of business today, I’m not certain anyone can be expected to know everything! I’m vulnerable when I say, “I don’t know” or “Help me understand.” One’s leadership skills grow when those around you feel your authenticity. I’d rather my team help push me up the hill rather than to try to drag them up by myself. Impossible! Great leaders understand the power of questioning rather than telling.
I am passionate about leadership. I have had the privilege of working for a few great leaders, both in the military and in civilian life, and also the privilege of working for terrible leaders.. I call that a privilege also because I learn as much from the bad as I do from the good. 2 fundamental lessons learned about being a great leader:
1) Listen and then respond
2) How a leader reacts under stress is critical, this is when your true character appears.
Great post as usual, Dan. I see my personal growth as something that is very important. I see this as an important part of my job. If I don’t grow in my leadership capacity and knowledge then I am not increasing my value to my employer. It is also important that we develop this value of learning in our subordinates as well. Their growth is important also and we must create a culture in which they feel it important to make time in their schedule for personal growth. Thanks for a fantastic, thought provoking and quick read in leadership. I look forward to reading the blog everyday.
Wow Dan. Offer a free book and the comments really start stacking up. (-:
Character qualities of a good leader:
1. Understand there is no success w/out successful communication — listening to others, understanding their goals / needs and aligning those with organization’s mission
2. Conduct defines integrity – lead by example, demonstrate the quality and behavior you expect from your team
3. Visionary and future-oriented – able to articulate that vision to the team; remembers the past so that it can inform the future, but doesn’t dwell in the past or allow it to restrict the future path
Honestly, I just want a free book.
Servant leadership based in wisdom, to me, is the most powerful. If a leader “knows it all”, they will not serve, but may have the tendency to lead from self-seeking attitudes. A true leader is influential to not only have character, but imparts that quality to others so that all may benefit from his/her leadership. A leader who has a heart based in servant leadership, considers the good for all and not just him or herself. This in turn creates a culture of honor.
Leaders not open to have their ideas challenged is a pretty good indicator of their attitude they know it all. Know it alls are pretty much ego out of control types and should be avoided. Any one not growing in wisdom is dying and will eventually be exposed for their lack of character. There are a lot of people with skills but no character.
I agree that character is foundational, however, leaders who have character, but are incompetent will also fail. Character and competence must complement each other and be held in balance for effective leadership. It seems to me that there is also a third element; chemistry. An effective leader has the right chemistry with his/her team and selects people for the team based on a good personality fit. If the leader models character and expects integrity from his team members as well, is highly competent and chooses team members based on their competence, and there is a foundation of trust and good chemistry among the team members, you have a recipe for a winning team.
Wisdom = continuous learning from others. Recently, I asked a friend to give a presentation at my club. He replied, “Kevin, I prefer someone else to give a presentation – I already know my own s*it!.
That’s a leader for you.
Solomon sought wisdom from the true source and was rewarded for his priority of serving the people he governed over self. God’s truth for any situation often conflicts with the facts we can see and perceive. The answer for “what am I missing?” needs to be “what does God want me to know and understand about this situation?”
The search for wisdom is life long. It takes many forms and requires humility and a lot of patience. What gets in the way of gaining wisdom? Trying to do too much yourself and not being willing to let others in to help you out. Unless you are willing to admit that you lack all the skills, you will never give yourself time to work with others to gain the new ones.
Mark has some great lessons on his site regarding ways leaders can be learners (i.e. learning more about yourself, the market you’re in, your competition).
Made it through all 155 responses! Some collective wisdoms here!!
Embracing failure is key to successful leadership…if you choose to learn from that failure. Sans failure and only short term success, you do not learn. If you don’t learn, you stagnate. If you stagnate, you wallow in your own false wisdom. If done for a prolonged time, you are no longer relevant and cease to exist.
As a denominational leader I spend a lot of time working with pastors. One of the most common causes of failure in ministry is the inability to work with people. Ministry is very relational, and if the minister does not relate well with people he or she will struggle to enjoy a fruitful ministry. Ministers are called to serve, and our best leaders are servant leaders. Character issues will largely determine how well we will relate to and serve others. If our character is such that it inspires trust, and we consistently earn that trust through being consistent with our core values, we will enjoy a productive ministry. If we violate that trust or demonstrate that we lack the character qualities that would inspire trust, our leadership will fail. It is important to remember that God called us to be something before he called us to do something.
A leader has to be honest with himself, and needs to ensure that reflection and learning are ongoing components within his make-up. Character and courage go hand in hand, and any leader not leading with courage will simply lose his “troops”. I have met Leaders whose only focus is on how they get ahead with minimal effort. One openly admitted that only went to development programs “because THEY sent him to them”. Leaders like this are always found out….they say that Leadership is a “soft Skill”….Leadership is a tough skill, when you don’t have it inside you..when you don’t lead for the right reasons.
I’m so thankful for the clarification between character and skills. Both are so important to effective leadership. But you can take classes, seek mentorship or read books to develop new skills. Your character is innate. It can be improved over time – but it requires a much deeper honesty with yourself and a commitment to long-term growth. People who are following will tolerate character flaws for a season. But once you have identified flaws that greatly hinder your leadership, you absolutely must take responsibility to work on those areas. Simply saying “Oh yeah, I’ve always struggled with being…” is not going to satisfy people who have put up with you for years.
I have no problem saying “I could be wrong” or I don’t know when it comes to certain topics (all topics?) because I am the first to admit I don’t know everything! That’s why a great team is a balance of people with many different skills, experiences and wisdom. I think being a leader is a never-ending journey.
Compassion and integrity. Passionate about your career and your people. You have to show integrity in all of your relationships up and down the chain in order to succeed.
Such important words to take in and live. It is so vital to keep a check of our character and grow in wisdom as you say and I believe that’s only through humbling ourselves before others and having a teachable spirit to continue to learn throughout our lives.
I think a key skill for a leader comes from humility, there is much wisdom in accepting that the team has great knowledge and skill and the successful leader is the person who can bring this knowledge and skill together and energise for great prospects. As the wise man once said “God has given you 2 ears and once mouth, so that you may use them in that order and proportion”.
This reminds me of a favorite Dan Rockwell quote:
“Focus on character, capacity, and drive; without these – skill and talent don’t matter”
We define our own character in our every day actions. Ask yourself both personally and professionally…
+what do you do when no one is looking?
+what do you say about someone when they are not around?
+is what you have said productive in creating a solution?
+is how you have said something supportive to achieve the desired outcome?
Love this post…thanks Dan
Leaders need to ask for help before they need it.
“Leaders who don’t seek wisdom lack character.”
No truer words ever spoke, Dan. And I like that you put it so bluntly and succinctly. that single character flaw points to the inflated egos of the guilty. They, by and large, don’t seek knowledge because they think they can’t be taught anything. They are know-it-alls…to put it bluntly.
But in my experience, that single character flow exposes itself eventually, and usually in fairly stark ways.
Thanks for the great post today!
Leadership really is all about skills, character and Wisdom. Wisdom is reflected in skillfully dealing with people and issues from a strong sense of values and character. Effective leadership demonstrates both skills-based traits as well as character-based traits. Skills demonstrate competency while character demonstrates trustworthiness.
Great points, Dan, as always!
For me, it is about humility and being engaged. I don’t think that you can be effective without being humble and really knowing what the issues are in your organization.
I have been reading material on leadership for 20 years. I am known for my library, and am always honored when others borrow to better themselves. My Ph.D. would not have been as effective without the leadership skills that I have worked to develop. It will interesting to see if Miller has new things to say or just says things in a new way.
Reminds me of a quote I heard that basically said something like “…there are places your talent will take you that your character can’t keep you. Close the gap.”
Good stuff
” Fakers are exposed, eventually ” Why, praytell, does it take so long to exposed them? The fakers are dragging the work place down with their very presence. Isn’t there a tool or skill you can share to weed them out faster?
I’ve watched many a good employee give up and move on.
Without a doubt; leadership without character…leadership without wisdom…seems to stretch the definition of what leadership is about. The old conversation about leadership v. manager usually dwells on the Bennis quote, “Managers do things right; Leaders do the right thing.” Leaders sans-character (position, not action) are not really practicing leadership either; only exercising authority. And for a full play-on-words, it is an exercising of authority without authenticity.
A teachable leader is a dangerous leader! You’re always producing leadership gold… Thank you!
I strive to ONLY become involved with people who intimidate me because of their wisdom, capacity for delivering meaningful projects, and their sense of honor. If a potential mentor or partner frightens me by possessing these strengths, then I’m apt to grow through our interaction.
That being said, I only read books on leadership that are going to force me to open myself up to change. A leadership book with the word FAILURE in the title is freaky. Ok, I’m in.
Vision and growth
Vision because you have to be able to see a better tomorrow and influence and inspire your team to achieve that better tomorrow.
Growth because as a leader you should never stop growing. If you’re expecting your team to get better you better be leading by example.
Something happens when a leader begins to view the organization as an extension of himself, and his interior experience equals the state of his organization. At that point, subordinates become tools.
Very good point about does your calendar reflect that you are seeking wisdom. Looking back at what I make as priorities shows me that I could stand to spend some more time moving learning to the front burner more often.
The core value of leadership is love and this is a difficult task for someone who is self serving.
Dan, a co-worker turned me on to your blog a couple years ago when I started at a new organization. Your posts offer such insightful and thought-provoking commentary on leadership. I rarely read a post without thinking about what I can do that moment, that day, or as a goal for my year. I couldn’t agree more that leaders have heart and that their “heart” is at the “heart” of their leadership. Thanks for the daily inspiration (and to your readers who also offer excellent food for thought in their responses.)
If I don’t give you what you need, I can’t expect you to succeed. It’s all about making sure you’re giving the resources and skills to help develop your team. Chances are it’s going to cost you with time and or money, but it’s a sacrifice all the great leaders have to make if they want to find themselves successful!
Sounds like a good book.
Leadership is not something that comes naturally to me but I think that is ok because I don’t hold myself out to be a leader. I prefer to lead by example rather than direction. Interestingly though my peers often push me to take a leadership role and your article has made me realise that I should trust their confidence in my skills instead of focusing on my lack of confidence in my leadership abilities. I am definitely a seeker of wisdom and reflection has for a long time been part of my daily life. Thanks for your perspective.
I think your attitude is 1 of your mist important characteristics of your character. But lack of character will lead you to fail. I havent read your book but regardless if I win it I will purchase it. I love to read and learn.
I believe real leaders recognize their roles as an achievement and accomplishment, not an entitlement!
One of the many characteristics if a successful leader is the ability to trust the judgment of her staff. Second guessing, micro-management, and hindsight supervision all end up leading to less innovation, lower productivity, and higher turnover. The 90 percent rule, “focus only on issues that support organizational strategy and resist the urge to change the tactics of the remaining 90 percent”, will consistently deliver strong positive results.
Good leaders are coaches first. We must listen to those we are leading.
In my experience, those leaders that consistently seek after knowledge quickly separate themselves from those who do not. I’m striving more and more to grow through personal development and it always bears fruit.
Also, I appreciate that in general your posts tend to present ideas in a very different but straightforward way. They shed new light on a lot of common topics that I don’t find in many other leadership blogs. Thanks for the insights!
I’ve been working on my leadership and communication skills for awhile via the Toastmasters International (TI) program. I also work on my leadership and character skills through my work with the ManKind Project (MKP). Knowing yourself is key to personal growth and TI and MKP both help tremendously in these areas.
Great stuff on twitter.
“None of us is as smart as all of us” Ken Blanchard
WOW! Truth. I don’t know what more to say than that. Great Post Dan 🙂
A #4 would be: Am I willing to put constructive input into my leadership into effect, regardless of the source?
#5 When will I act on the input?
The effectiveness of any leader can only be determined by followers. It must be earned the old fashioned way through trust. character and caring. No one can recite enough data or write enough papers to prove he is a leader.
Dauna Easley
Investing time in people that help me grow is something that has developed me to be a far better leader. Little did I know that from time to time, I’m actually helping the people I seek out. It’s important to surround yourself with the qualities and character you want to represent and define your leadership. It’s rejuvenating, it’s refreshing and it provides a much needed source of inspiration when I’m in need of it most.
I agree- leaders who don’t seek wisdom and ask questions from others lack integrity & a true heart compassion for those in need. They are not trusted by sensitive godly leaders either and are usually filled with much pride (since they have all of the answers). When you can put your trust in a leader filled with personal integrity & a genuine care for others, an organization will be successful and have a healthy, enjoyable work environment where people thrive.
Passion first, being in the right place in the right time is second! As simple as that!
Wonderful insights. Those four words can be a leaders best friend. They may be hard to say, but “I could be wrong” demonstrates a leaders humility and willingness to learn. Well written post. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
A great leader has curiosity. The incurious cannot grow or change; they’re satisfied where they are. They are not worth following, because they aren’t really going anywhere.
A leader with curiosity is aware that she does not know it all, or know everything there is to know about the people who follow her. He is curious not only about the project at hand, but in where that project leads.
I can not wait to get my copy of The Heart Of leadership. I started reading Leadershipfreak in the summer to learn what makes a good leader. I have never been disappointed. And today’s entry was no exception. My hunger for heart based leadership is again sated.
Namaste
Great leader has humility and he/she himself/herself is able to follow.
I love this blog.
I believe leaders need to be open, honest, and empathetic.
Trustworthiness, honesty, consistency, humility, being accountable, leading by example, a team player, and above all one must be teachable.If you know everything already there is no room for growth!
“Fake leaders – those with skills but lacking character – inevitably sink. Skills might get you there but character keeps you there.”
I am not sure that leaders who lack character really sink – to me it seems that they lose respect and power and become kind of like the outcast that sits in the corner office and everyone ignores.
Great post. The pursuit of wisdom is never done.
Some days, in the heat of battle, I wonder if I have very much wisdom or character, but I always find some more at your blog site .
Character qualities essential to successful leadership are trustworthiness/honesty, willingness to learn from/ teach other, and having an eagerness for personal growth.
My addiction to Leadership Freak seems a bit more justified with your latest post.
Thanks,
J.
A leader continually seeking clarity is essential to growth. Thanks!!
One of the essential keys to leadership character, that demonstrates hunility and is likely to lead to greater wisdom is the conviction that there are many things that we do not know that we do not know. These blinds spots are generally best revealed through a humble spirit that asks seeks various pints of view and that openly solicits feedback about how others experience us.
Rather than trying to build on what you’ve shared Dan, I decided to reengage some self-assessment based on your article. I truly value team “think” and team “effort,” meaning I really place high value on achieving success with others. What I don’t always do well is approaching those on my team or outside of my team for direct input on my leadership or something I’m trying to achieve. I need to step outside of my tendency to silo in my efforts and more intentionally and proactively seek the wisdom of others. Thanks for the reminder. Mark Miller’s previous works have pushed me forward in my leadership. I look forward to being nudged by him again!!
Great leaders REALLY know how to listen…it’s about hearing more than just what is said.
Sometimes newer or inexperienced leaders struggle with saying “no”. Saying “yes” is so easy to do but it can lessen your impact as a true leader.
A leader’s deeds only gain value when seen through the lens of his character. Very nicely said, great article!
Good post, Dan. As a society, we have generally placed talent over character. Yet when the going gets tough … or when success comes … the true colors show through. “The prosperity of fools will destroy them.” Without character, either trial or triumph can cause a person to self-destruct … and unfortunately take down others with them.
There are ditches on both sides of the road. If a leader does not have a strong vision and confidence in their ability it is hard to lead. However, that confidence can easily be interpreted as or become overconfidence which leads to a loss of humility…and the loss of a felt need for wisdom and continued growth. Thanks for a great post!
Great article. I believe integrity, tact to say anything, and the ability to build and nurture relationships are all important characteristics.
Lack of character has greatly undermined the potential of many leaders. They not only destroy themselves but also damage people in the process.
If this book provides solutions to developing character for leadership I am ready to humble myself. Thank you for this blog. I am so happy i stumbled upon you via Twitter! Keep up the great work
Can I have the book? Thanks.
Well said!
Failure of leadership is the problem of my country and I don’t want to be counted as one of those failed leaders thus this book is sine qua none to all future leaders like me
Great stuff as always
Developing character is a matter of repeating IMPROVED behavior.
Great blog thanks.
Essentials: accountability & security (in what you do/don’t know)
Great words of “wisdom”! This is similar to the fact that ‘managers’ do things right while ‘leaders’ do the right things. Thanks for the opportunity to learn how to gain wisdom and grow.
2 1/2 yrs into my job, seeking wisdom from people who have been there before me is a regular part of the job. I hope when I’m years down the road, I’m still like my more experienced colleagues and seek wisdom like I see them still doing.
Integrity without it all other qualities are meaningless.
‘Leaders who lack character don’t seek wisdom because they don’t need wisdom. They already know.’ This resonated with me as currently in my organization (I live in Canada) we have two leaders who feel this way and it’s like a war zone and the ones who are suffering most are the staff. No engagement, increased absenteeism, lack of faith and, the most telling, people are leaving. This is something all leaders should take, read and commit to.
Thanks!
Great info! Im not a born leader, but i hope to be able to call myself a leader at some point.
Follow you daily for leadership ideas.
Lack of character means having continuous moral failure. I was just reading TODAY of all days from the Bible that the fear of The Lord is wisdom and to turn from evil is understanding. This was coming from Job who God esteemed as a man of “perfect integrity.” (Ref. Job 1:8; 2:3; 28:28)
A leader who truly fears The Lord and turns from evil is going to have character. They may not have all the knowledge, but they will have wisdom.
Love this! Worked with managers who have dominated conversations with their “wisdom” without questionning whether they are right or if there may be another view. It becomes obvious from the response of others that these are not leaders: not inclusive and sadly get people’s backs up. Always remember that unless it isfact, it is your opinion and seeit as the starting point for discussion. Thanks for this
“I see my personal development as one of my highest priorities.” This statement is absolutely huge! When we prioritize our own development, those we lead take notice and tend to do the same.
Great post and thank you for giving us some meat…
“I love what Rev. Billy Graham stated, “When one Courageous man stand the backs of others stiffen”.
The word courage is derived from the Latin word “cor” which means heart. Courage is a heart issue. In other words, what is missing from the heart is always revealed in situations where we are not our best.
It takes Courage to:
Say I was wrong, please forgive me,
Forgive when you want to hold on the to a past hurt,
Asking for help, when by doing so you may be seemed weak,
Be silent, when everything inside says, “Give it to them”,
Be resilient in the midst of adversity, even when you’re the only one standing,
To keep moving forward on you’re goal even when you’re broken, feel alone, and don’t see the end,
Receive a stern word and make the necessary change (for me changes),
Recognize broken is all part of the process of growth.
Thank goodness, I’m in a process and not being graded on a curve because I would be hurting…..Blessings!
Mark
Lead Yourself & Multiply Others
This post fails to address leaders who are long-term successful in spite of the fact that they lead through intimidation, politics and institutional bullying. This is more common than most people will admit, see Moral Mazes et. al. for documented academic studies of this.
Thanks again for another great insight Dan. I’ve observed that more leaders have failed because of lack of character than lack of skill. Thanks to you and Mark Miller for reminding us once again that who we are beats what we are all the time.
Many leaders get lost in their own job responsibilities and just try to manage their team on the fly. What they don’t realize is that this is far from a successful leader. It is essential as a leader to be committed to your teams success not just your success in your role. I think this tends to validate someone who lacks character and doesn’t care to invest in their wisdom. The world should be our classroom! There is so much for us to learn around every corner. I always have my nose in a book that applies to an aspect of my life somehow because if we’re not growing, we’re dying.
Hi this is my first time on your blog. I agree that leaders need to constantly seek more wisdom in order to grow to their full potential. The world around us is constantly evolving and as leaders from all different walks of life, we need to also be susceptible and continue to evolve by seeking wisdom from others. I believe those that lack character also lack wisdom. Thank you for your post.
I think some character qualities that are essential for successful leadership are dependability, flexible, honest, humble, and authentic.
I totally agree with this post. Leaders that fail to want to learn are usually those that lack humility and understanding.
I agree that leaders have to continually educate themselves not only on facts and figures but also on soft skills. I have been around many leaders who believe their degrees or tenure make them great but it is the output of your team that is the true measure of your leadership.
Listen before you leap !
This book sounds intriguing.
Learning what leadership really is and starting to think of how to develop the skills necessary to one day become a leader. This blog was a direct link I found while tweeting at a leadership conference. I am intrigued and will follow for a resource in my journey. Your book sounds amazing.
Late in responding but heartfelt in the intent. Knowledge is power if used with discrimination, tact, wisdom and to inspire, not to intimidate. Keep educated and follow your heart and mind when they are in sync.
Character will take a long way. A cat with character will earn the respect of a pitbull.
Developing leadership competencies builds great leadership character. As an HR professional with some 17 years of experience, I agree that self-assessment is key to understanding where to start. Once a leader understands where they excel and where they may fall short, an executive development plan that includes one-on-one coaching can polish these competencies. This isn’t about book learning. It’s experiential. http://www.align4profit.com
These are all very good. My only concern as a tax and business lawyer is with giving ownership. This can be a real problem and a very costly one indeed if not handled correctly and with the proper plan and proper and air-tight legal documentation. Readers need to understand how important it is to set this up correctly. Even then you can get trapped in a very messy legal dispute that can be quite costly.