The following is a re-post from 2006 and is dedicated to the U.s. Congress and AIG. May they understand the power of character and the influence therein.
A mentor of mine reminded me this week of something I'd heard
before, but didn't really understand until now. He told me that one of
the biggest threats to a leader is when their skills development
outpaces their character development. Quite frankly, the problems
we're seeing in corporate America (H-P, Converse Technology, etc.) is
very likely a result of this chasm. Think about it, no one would
question the skill level of the executives at H-P. But obviously we
would question their character.
So how much time does the average leader spend on character development vs. skills development? If the most recent headlines (Business Week Online)
are to be believed, more time is spent on the skills side. Isn't funny
how the thing that can wreck a life or career is the thing we ignore.
Some call it arrogance…I call it stupidity. We've all been warned
about what happens when character is left in the dust (see Enron,
Citigroup or Adelphia).
You have a chance to turn the ship around by giving your character
some attention-major attention. Start by putting as much time into the
development of your character as you would on skills. For example, if
you're taking fifteen hours of classes at your local university to get
your MBA, then give your character that much. Believe me, their are
churches, universities, books and more that can offer you the right
material on character development. Do it now! You thank me for it
later…
The world needs more leaders who are well balanced in their character and their skills.
Character and skills development are certainly key. They need to be encountered early in life.
In my recently published pre-teen novel, Ian, one of Santa’s Helpers, struggles to understand the difference between managing and leading. He understands that management is based upon processes, order, and controls and that leadership is more about developing the potential in others. He learns the importance of embracing both concepts.
I think that it would be a step in the right direction if we were to teach some of the management and leadership concepts to our youth at an early age. Later on in life, they will be more receptive to change which is always happening in the business world, or life in general.
All the best!
Eric Dana Hansen, Author of “IAN, CEO, North Pole”
http://www.ianceonorthpole.com
That’s a great example Dan! Tremendous skills, but the internal trips him.
Eric –
Well said. Character trumps skills every time. Terrell Owens is a good example… how many rings does he own?