Why Leadership Character is Important

Emmanuel Donkor

“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” Abraham Lincoln

 

I grew up in a family and community that emphasized character over reputation. You could trust family and friends to do the right thing and tell the truth. It wasn’t always a perfect model but it laid a foundation for my approach to life and business.

Today I work hard to match my actions with my beliefs to be authentic and consistent in my work and life. I confess that I don’t always get it right so I’m hoping my family and friends will forgive me for that. But I do take seriously the role that character plays in being an effective leader.

Perhaps that is why it is so troubling to observe how many business and political leaders seem to dismiss the need to be a person of character. It’s hard to find leaders who will tell people the truth or make difficult decisions; who admit their mistakes or exhibit courage under fire.

When it happens we all notice because it seems so rare. In 1990 Nelson Mandela, who recently released after twenty years in a South African prison, tells a rally, “We especially need to forgive each other, because when you intend to forgive, you heal part of the pain, but when you forgive you heal completely. The character of Nelson Mandela caught our attention and served as a powerful example of forgiveness.

Ego may be one reason we are so willing to protect our reputation; how we wish others would see us. We fudge the truth or lie out of habit to keep this false image intact. It takes lots of energy to live a lie. Wouldn’t it be easier to live as people of character so our word can be trusted the first time? How could opponents effectively challenge us if the content of our character was known by everyone? Their lies and motives would become apparent.

Now would be a great time for leaders in all our institutions to make a commitment to become people of character less concerned with protecting a reputation what others think you are and more concerned with who you really are.

In this time of uncertainty we need more trees and fewer shadows. Be a Leader of good charater.

Your comments are welcome.

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