Character Before Skill
Bad is easier than good.
Success is narrow; failure is an abyss. “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Tolstoy
Dysfunction is creative.
There are many ways to get leadership wrong. Lack of character is the worst.
Character And Skill
You don’t need principles to have skills.
Skills are morally neutral. Being persuasive is a skill. Manipulation reflects a weak backbone.
You can’t outgrow character.
The Foundation of Leadership Success
Successful leaders don’t share a personality. They share moral fiber.
#1. Integrity: Harmony of values, words, and actions.
#2. Courage: Willingness to do hard things early. Go first.
#3. Humility: Accurate self-assessment coupled with appreciation for others. Open to learning.
#4. Responsibility: Ownership without excuses.
#5. Self-control: Emotional steadiness when stakes rise.
#6. Care for People: Uses power to develop, not dominate.
#7. Reliability: Stays when it’s boring, painful, or slow. Plays the long game.
Lessons From Leaders Who Disappoint
#1. Reject “High Horse” Thinking
No one is good at everything. Eliminate the cult of personality.
When you’re smarter than everyone, you’re stupid.
#2. Focus On Moral Leadership During Job Interviews
- What are you learning from failure?
- Tell me about a time you changed your mind.
- Describe a time you paid a price for telling the truth.
- What habit has improved your reliability most?
- Describe a person you found difficult to work with.
#3. Distinguish Character Flaws From Skill Gaps
- Look for patterns. One-off failure is lack of skill. Repetition reveals bad morals.
- Does coaching help?
- How do they respond to feedback? Defensiveness reveals inner weakness.
- How much supervision is required? Character goes down as the need for supervision goes up.
Confront character when training, coaching, and mentoring don’t result in growth.
“Character is destiny.” Heraclitus.
How can organizations make moral fiber a priority?
The Top Five Things to Look for in Potential Leaders
Moral Toughness: How Leaders Develop the Strength and Endurance to Do the Right Thing
Thank you Dan, a great add to any leadership library.
Great thoughts today Dan. We must continue to stress that we have to hire for culture up and down the organization. Yes, skill are necessary, but so is “fit”. Fit goes more into culture than anything and needs to be defined to be understood and cultivated. A leader’s character will “model the way” as Kouzes and Posner put it. Only we choose what type of example we are going to be and thus set the rudder for the organization. Skills are vital, but character first is a mantra that must take priority for longevity and all of the other benefits of a lasting institution.