What Is Your Leadership Character?
It takes a high level of character in order for an individual not only to be respectable but to give respect to others. John Wooden once said, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
Reputation may be what you need to get a leadership role, but character is what you need to keep it. Character will drive a leader’s reputation more than any other factor. It will follow them wherever they go and in whatever they do. With it, they have the freedom to accomplish more at a faster rate. Decisions can be made very quickly when people respect their leader. The more respect is earned, the more “buy-in” occurs from the people. Others will rally behind a leader that they feel has an honorable character. The Reverend D.L. Moody wrote, “If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself.” Reputation is what you have when you come into a new relationship; character is what you have when you go away. Reputation is fleeting, but character is lasting.
Reputation may be what you need to get a leadership role, but character is what you need to keep it
If a leader does not have strong character, they are limited in what they can accomplish. People will often question a leader they do not have respect for. They will be cautious and skeptical towards them and their actions. A team may have resistance to the leader’s motives if there is a lack of respect. A leader’s hands are tied when they are not honored, and when they do not honor others.
The famous businessman, Lee Iacocca, worked his way up through Ford Motor Company until he became president in 1970. He was known for successfully engineering the Ford Mustang but was unsuccessful with the Ford Pinto. Through much tension, he was later fired from Ford Motor Company by Henry Ford II. But Iacocca ended up taking a position at the failing Chrysler Corporation in the 1980s and revived it successfully. He said this about one of the greatest lessons he learned while looking back at his failures, “I forgot to shake hands and be friendly. It was an important lesson about leadership.”
Always remember that position does not automatically equal respect. Just because you are “over” someone does not mean they will respect you. A title may describe you, but your character will define you. You will not be remembered for the titles attached to your name alone, you will be remembered by your character above all. We need to be developing honorable characteristics that become part of who we are. These honorable characteristics must become a part of our language and behavior. People can easily see through a fake facade. When it comes to earning respect, there are no “faking it till you make it” type of passes. Would you be ok with your mechanic working on your car as he is faking it to make it? Would you be ok with a heart surgeon working on you as she fakes it to make it? Would you be ok with a teacher educating your children as they fake it to make it? Of course, we wouldn’t want these things, so we cannot be apathetic when it comes to respect and honor. Those that have the ability to inspire others are not pretenders, they are genuine producers that operate with honor and integrity in everything they do. Success Magazine Publisher, Darren Hardy, wrote, “When people fake anything, they only produce more fakeness, and that leads to disconnect, trouble, misery and ultimately failure.”
A title may describe you, but your character will define you.
Respectable leaders develop characteristics of being true to their word as their actions line up with what they say. They are driven to model a respectable persona by which they live up to with their leadership. Larry Bird said, “Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It’s being able to take it as well as dish it out. That’s the only way you’re going to get respect from the players.”
A high position can never take the place of a strong character. Leaders who are able to connect with others are greatly respected, not because of their power but because of their character. When a leader earns respect, they are able to transform their organization by transforming their people.
