Character Counts Most
The #1 Ingredient in a Leader's Success
Leader:
Do you know — and I mean really know — that the most important ingredient to success in your life and work is the content of your character?
Some in the world will tell you that it’s your work productivity, the size of your bank account, how many businesses you own or are invested in, your follower count, or your likeability that is most important to your success.
That’s all false.
Leadership expert John C. Maxwell once said, “Your success stops where your character stops. You can never rise above the limitations of your character.”
Here’s why character counts most in the leader’s success equation:
Strong positive character builds and accelerates trust on teams
Poor character in a leader erodes trust across the entire organization
Good character commands respect
Poor character in a leader will chase great people out of the organization
Leaders with strong character will inspire excellence across an organization
Leaders with good character tend to out-perform others with poor character over time
What are the hallmarks of good character in a leader?
High integrity - Your words and actions match
Empathy - You can understand (at a base emotional level) other people’s perspectives
Humility - You have an accurate self-perception and focus more on the needs of others than your own
Resilience - You have a reservoir of strength and capacity to get you through the most difficult situations without experiencing a catastrophic failure
Embrace Feedback - You’re open and accepting of correction for the sake of improving your own situation and that of those you lead and serve
Kindness - You are genuinely focused on caring and serving others — particularly those you’re responsible for leading