by Robb Thompson, Guest Contributor
[su_dropcap style=”flat”]H[/su_dropcap]AVE YOU EVER WONDERED what character-centered leadership was? Such a simple question, and yet it continues to confuse both those who work for a pay check and those who work to make the world a better place…
Leadership doesn’t automatically happen when you reach a certain age or pay grade. Hopefully you find it there, but there are no guarantees. Leaders lead people. Nurture, coach, exemplify and encourage… Some topical quotes here on “what leadership is:”
Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”
–Warren Bennis
As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who “empower others.”
–Bill Gates
Leadership is influence- nothing less.”
–John Maxwell
So what is Leadership?
Leadership is a process of social influence, which maximizes the efforts of others in society, relationship and the business world towards achievement of a goal. Please note – It includes a goal, not influence with no intended outcome. You are not only passionate, committed, devoted, and pumped about life… You are tireless and you believe…
The Importance of Character
Leadership lacks it’s most essential ingredient if Character is absent. History is replete with would be great leaders who lacked the most necessary ingredients to truly make the world a better place. Such basic things as honesty, integrity, ethical behavior, transparent, trustworthiness, respect, respectful and driven by duty.
[message type=”custom” width=”100%” start_color=”#F0F0F0 ” end_color=”#F0F0F0 ” border=”#BBBBBB” color=”#333333″]A Few Short Definitions
Honesty: The quality or fact of being honest; uprightness and fairness.
Integrity: The quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards.
Ethics: A system of moral principles governing appropriate conduct.
Transparent: Easily seen through, recognized, or detected.
Trustworthy: Deserving of trust or confidence, dependable, reliable.
Respect: Toward Others: It is the esteem for or a sense of the worth or achievements of a person, a personal quality or ability, ourselves: something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability.[/message]
A simple, yet profound definition of Character: It is the complex of mental and ethical traits that define an individual. It is the stable and distinctive qualities built into one’s life, which determine his or her response regardless of the situations or circumstances they face.
Abraham Lincoln said concerning character: “Reputation is the shadow. Character is the tree.” Our character is not just what we try to display for others to see, it is who we are even when no one is watching. Good character is doing the right thing, because it is right to do what is right.
In one-way or another, we are all in search of character in those we come together with. From here to the end of this article I desire to give you (as spoken by Dennis Pitocco, Publisher & Executive Editor of this Site):
Leading-edge insights matching a three-pronged criteria; Significant, Relevant And Actionable…”
Pillars Of Character Driven Leadership…
- Confidence, Never To Be Confused Confidence With Arrogance…
Arrogant: believing an exaggerated sense of self, self-importance or ability.
Synonyms – self-important, full of one’s self, presumptuous, just being plainly too big for your britches…
- Leadership Is About Vision. Where are you going & how are you going to get there?
- “Be Ambitious Without Being “Selfish”…
- Never Let Someone Tell You “It Can’t Be Done” Just Go Out There And Do It…
- All People Come From One Of Two Orientations, They Are Either Driven By Processes or Results… Choose To Focus On Results.
- Be A Problem Solver…
You will always be remembered for one of two things. The problems you solve or the ones you create. When I say these two names you will immediately think of the problem they solved or the one they created, ready? Adolf Hitler, he created a problem for all of history, the Holocaust. What about this name? Martin Luther King Jr., he solved the problem of civil rights back in the 1960’s.
- Know Others Strengths And Your Weaknesses…
- Always Be Willing To Take Risks.
- Know When To Listen And Who To Listen To… Never take an instruction from someone who is unable to give you a promotion…
- Be An Energetic Ethical And Character Driven Leader!
If there is one thing the world is suffering at this moment, it is a lack of character driven leadership. The world, both business and family life is crying out for “Character”. CEO’ look for it, mid management headhunts the globe in search of one person who is everything they said they were. When we focus on “Character” in Business we get Awesome Business Associates. Happy Hunting…
[message type=”custom” width=”100%” start_color=”#F0F0F0 ” end_color=”#F0F0F0 ” border=”#BBBBBB” color=”#333333″] For 
more than three decades, Robb Thompson has inspired people around the world to live their dreams in business, life and in their relationships. His principles of excellence have improved the lives of tens of thousands, saving marriages, resurrecting careers and inspiring those burdened with frustration, despair or anxiety to achieve previously unimaginable heights. Robb is the best-selling author of more than 30 books. His book “Critical Laws of Relationships” demonstrates the path to happiness and success in relationships, how to overcome hostility, improve communication and eliminate roadblocks. The 2008 best seller “Solitary Refinement” identified the need for quiet, meditative “alone time” years before meditation became the latest go-to for solving the problems of our ‘always on’ society.[/message]
Editor’s Note: As Progressive Life founder and CEO, Robb spreads his Company’s message through workshops, events, webinars, special guest speakers and workplace sessions. Discover and Register for Robb’s next remarkable event HERE. Joining Rob and hosting this Event will be infomercial pioneer and CNBC “Shark Tank” investor Kevin Harrington who will discuss “How to turn your influence into Dollars”
