Character of The Rare Leader™ represents the sum of his or her very core. Values, experience, knowledge and wisdom complete the dimension of “who I am”. The combination of morality, values and ethics create a strength your Character consistent of being true to values, and doing the right thing because it is the right thing. This inner strength enables Teams and organizations to trust their leader, whose Character embodies this knowledge, comfort, and trust of their own personal Core.
In the Rare Leader™, we call this Integrity of Character.
Integrity of Character embodies the Golden Rule, because it represents every gift of morality, value, and ethics we would hope to receive from others. Kurt Senske in his book Executive Values stresses a roadmap exists for incorporating faith and values into organizational and business life. Kurt professes “vision acts” where companies and leaders indicate and show a reality behind their words of acclamation of doing what is morally and ethically right. When we as leaders make claim to Integrity, we better be ready and willing to walk the talk.
Jim Collins talks about the Integrity of Character in his bestseller Good To Great. “In a good to great transformation, people are not your most important asset. The right people are.” Good to Great companies place a greater weight on character attributes than on specific education, practical skills, knowledge, or experience.
We found in the teachings of Marcus Buckingham that these skill based traits are teachable. Character traits are ingrained. Integrity of Character is the true measure of how you bring the core of your life to the surface for you, and those who choose to follow you.
This month our study of Integrity of Character will be exciting. I know it will make some people uncomfortable. But maybe that’s how we discover and claim new opportunities for ourselves. Integrity of Character is truly one of the remarkable behaviors of the Rare Leader™. Join in on the blog. E-mail us, and make certain your following us on Twitter.
If you want to learn more about the Rare Leader™ in you,
or if you are interested in retaining Steve as your Executive Coach,
I found your post on integrity of character enlightening. The Golden Rule is absolutely tied to leadership. It applies to the leader and to their followers.
Thanks Dale. Sometimes it’s the longest standing and simplest of behaviors we find most difficult to replicate. I feel it’s more than just a strong character, but integrity of that character for successful leadership. The two are intertwined. Thanks for mentioning me in your blog. Wonderful writings on Toxic Leadership.
Interesting explanation. I prefer to make out the print IMDB