The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Character

We continue our learning and growing with the lessons contained in John C. Maxwell’s book titled The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. This book carries the subtitle: "Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow".

Everything rises and falls on leadership. And leadership truly develops from the inside out. If you can become the leader you ought to be on the inside, you will be able to become the leader you want to be on the outside. People will want to follow you.

Quality #1 - Character: be a piece of the rock

“Leadership is the capacity and will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence.” – Bernard Montgomery, British Field Marshall

Crisis doesn't necessarily make character, but it does certainly reveal it. Adversity is a crossroads that make a person choose one of two paths: character or compromise.

What must every person know about character?

1. Character is more than talk
   1. Anyone can say that he has integrity, but action is the real indicator of character.
   2. That’s why you can never separate a leader’s character from his actions.
2. Talent is a gift, but character is a choice
   1. We do choose our character.
   2. In fact, we create it every time we make choices – to cop out or dig out of a situation, to bend the truth or stand under the weight of it, to take the easy money or pay the price.
   3. As you live your life and make choices, you are continuing to create your character.
3. Character brings lasting success with people
   1. True leadership always involves other people.
   2. Followers do not trust leaders whose character they know to be flawed, and they will not continue following them.
4. Leaders cannot rise above the limitations of their character
   1. Have you ever seen highly talented people suddenly fall apart when they achieved a certain level of success?
   2. b. The key to that phenomenon is character.
   3. He believes they are destined for one or more of the four A’s: arrogance, painful feelings of aloneness, destructive adventure-seeking, or adultery. Each is a terrible price to pay for weak character.

“The respect that leadership must have requires that one’s ethics be without question. A leader not only stays above the line between right and wrong, he stays well clear of the ‘gray areas’.” – G. Alan Bernard

Bringing it home:

1. Search for the cracks.
   1. Spend some time looking at the major areas of your life, and identify anywhere you might have cut corners, compromised, or let people down.
2. Look for patterns.
   1. Detectable patterns will help you diagnose character issues.
3. Face the music.
   1. The beginning of character repair comes when you face your flaws, apologize, and deal with the consequences of your actions.
4. Rebuild.
   1. Now that you've identified any areas of weakness, create a plan that will prevent you from making the same mistakes again.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc