HOW CHARACTER SUSTAINS LEADERS
By Dr. John C. Maxwell
(This article was adapted from an article appearing at Center for Creative Leadership, written by Sara King, who is group director of the Center for Creative Leadership's Individual Leader Development practice area.)
I presented two mistakes that I made as a young leader:
1) I thought that leaders distinguished themselves by rising above their people.
2) I thought as a leader, the people should be focused on my agenda.
A third mistake that I made as a young leader was that I used to think that charisma was the most important aspect of leadership. In the beginning, I focused on charisma because I know that leadership attracts, and leadership influences people. Therefore I thought, "Well, if I'm going to influence people I've got to develop charisma in my life." I've been around enough boring leaders to say that is a desire that most of us should have!
What I learned is that character is the most important aspect of leadership, not charisma. Charisma attracts, but character sustains. In fact, I think charisma, in the area of leadership, is overrated.
Character embodies who you really are. It's the inner fiber of your being. It is your inner self in action. It reveals what you are truly made of, it's your substance. Character is, as D. L. Moody said, "What you are in the dark."
If you have charisma without character, it's only a matter of time before people find you out. Without character you cannot sustain meaningful relationships, and without relationships your ability to lead and influence others is anemic.
So what is it about character that really makes a difference?
1. Character sets you apart.
There was a time when people who lacked integrity stood out from the crowd. Now the opposite is true--charisma can make people stand out for a moment, but character can set them apart for a lifetime.
2. Character creates trust.
Leadership functions only on the basis of trust. If you pull out trust, then you will lose your leadership foundation.
3. Character promotes excellence.
If you lead people, good character sets a standard for everyone who is following you. People will eventually become like their leader. If leaders compromise on their standards, cheat the company, or take shortcuts, so will their followers.
4. Character gives staying power.
During the tough times that all leaders face, character has the ability to carry you through, which is something that charisma can never do. When you are weary and inclined to quit, the self-discipline of character keeps you going.
5. Character extends influence.
Charisma, by its nature, doesn't last long or extend very far. It's like a flash of gunpowder. It produces a quick, blinding light, but then it's gone. The only thing left is smoke. Character, on the other hand, is more like a bonfire. Its effects are long-lasting. It produces warmth and light, and as it continues to burn it gets hotter, giving fuel that burns brighter.
If you're currently leading people, you probably have some measure of both charisma and character. The question is which one are you relying on to lead? The answer can be found in your response to this great question, "As time goes by, does it get easier or harder to lead?"
Without character, leadership becomes harder to sustain. You constantly have to perform to get people to notice you; but with character, as time goes by, leadership strengthens, builds, and continues to attract the people. And best of all, the ones who do come to enjoy your fire stay with you a lot longer than the ones who only want to see a show.
"Leadership roles should be filled by people who make a deliberate decision to lead," says Sara King. "We often underestimate the importance of willingness and authenticity when we make choices about leadership in organizations."
King, group director of the Center for Creative Leadership's Individual Leader Development Practice Area and co-author of Discovering the Leader in You: A Guide to Realizing Your Personal Leadership Potential, conducted a series of interviews to learn how people become leaders. When asked, "Have you thought about a life plan around leadership? Was leadership a conscious decision?" most interviewees said they never considered leadership as a choice or a plan. Comments such as, "I fell into the position," "I don't give it a second thought," or "I was chasing titles" were typical responses.
King's conclusion? "People take on leadership roles without thinking through what being a leader means to them personally." King describes this unconscious path to leadership "the problem of drift." Drift can be a problem for the individual because it can lead to a poor fit with the specific leadership role, the right role at the wrong time, and unforeseen loss of technical expertise or favorite aspects of work. For colleagues, drift can have a negative impact in several ways: they don't receive necessary guidance, no vision to embrace and little development because the relationship is seen as short-term.
If making a conscious choice about leadership is so important, then how do you go about it? According to King, you must take the time to examine leadership commitments and opportunities in the context of your whole life. She suggests evaluating and reflecting on the following:
Vision: What are your dreams and passions? How do you want to have impact? Explore your personal vision, leadership vision, stories and daydreams, focus and energy.
Values: What are your core values and priorities? How do they conflict or fit with the organization and within your job? How do these values inform your leadership?
Self-awareness: What are your motivations, competencies and roles, personal characteristics, learning styles and responses to change? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Do you understand how you impact others?
Balance: What besides work is going on in your life? Consider finances, location, parenting, health and age, impacts of work and personal lives, roles and relationships as elements in your choice to lead.
"When we assume this mantle of leadership, we assume with it a great deal of responsibility for other people," King asserts. "We have to be willing to take what comes with the territory."
By making a personal choice to lead, you and those around you will benefit from greater energy, greater authenticity and greater impact. |