KEY POINTS

  • Virtuous leaders, distinguished as ethical and value-laden, often wield far more power than their counterparts.
  • When people and true fulfillment are second to outcomes and profit, virtue is neglected.
  • The key to effective leadership is focusing on being a person of character instead of the main character.

An all-too-common pitfall many leaders experience as they accumulate influence is forgetting a key marker that makes them successful over the long term — the depth of their character. Virtuous leaders, distinguished as ethical and value-laden (spiritual, servant, charismatic, transformational, and authentic), often wield far more power than their counterparts. Because when action-backed inspiration — not fear — drives followers, the sky is the limit with what you can collectively achieve. Organizations with people of character at the helm are thriving more. Their staff feels valued, even in the middle of a pandemic, and they are happy.

It is natural to equate a leader with the main character. After all, within the organizational framework, leaders have the starring role. Like it or not, the ego likes power, and when the ego gets what it wants, humility suffers. And so also suffer the supporting cast of employees. I genuinely believe most leaders have it to be truly exceptional, and I have seen these transformations firsthand. It is all about where we assign value. And when people and true fulfillment are second to outcomes and profit, virtue is neglected. For sure, the traditional business model doesn’t appraise the value of character as an ingredient to success.

But what if I told you being virtuous and good-natured can make you happier than all the power in the world ever could? That said, it isn’t enough to tell most people to be virtuous for virtue’s sake. Instead, most of us need to be incentivized. In this case, the incentive is joy and fulfillment, a goal that starts with you in your leadership position.

With consistent practice and intention, you can elevate your character and, in turn, the happiness of both yourself and those you lead. The key to unlocking this flavor of effective leadership is focusing on being a person of character instead of the main character. You’ll be amazed at how a simple reframe dramatically changes your sense of meaning and resulting actions. I say it all the time — words are worlds. What we say — especially to ourselves — has the power to shape not only our reality but also that of those around us.

Here are some crucial steps to take to grow character:

  1. Get clear on core values. What are your organization’s core values? How about your own? If you don’t know them, be deliberate about finding out. Knowing your core values and reviewing them at least once per day is a compelling way to fortify the base that will automatically build character. In every decision and action, you are either moving forward or backward. So, develop and always move forward. Find your core values and realize the road to change is long and uncertain. So be humble and be patient. Eventually, you will find the proverbial pot of gold.
  2. Build humility. If things are going well within your areas of responsibility as a leader, it isn’t only you who got you there. What’s more, if you cannot admit that you have made mistakes, you cannot wipe the slate clean to make the sound judgments to get yourself out of the pickle in which you got yourself. And if you are someone so devoid of humility that you can’t admit to your mistakes, allow me to offer the following: The more mistakes you will enable yourself to make, I believe the better leader you become. This is assuming you are bold enough to look inward and commit to making a change in each instance.
  3. Shift from “me” to “we.” Be very intentional to bring “we” into your conversations. Doing so demonstrates you do not see yourself as the main character but rather part of the collective. And it is far easier to get buy-in from your staff and stakeholders when it is a “we” mentality.
  4. Consistency is key. You’ve figured out your core values and traits through which you want to lead? Great. Now, for the fun part — applying them. For any new behavior to stick long-term, consistent action is critical. While this may seem obvious, the first steps take conscious effort and focus, especially if you have uncovered new values or neglected known ones. You’ll want to make it easy to upgrade your character by taking a few simple actions first.
  5. Create a culture of character. You are a product of those by whom you are surrounded. It’s why newly sober alcoholics break up with their drinking buddies and monks live in monasteries. If you want to be a person of character, you need to have a team of character as well. So, implement clear policies and a code of ethics for employees to follow. Communicate your vision for the company in tandem with sharing these changes to inspire real change.
  6. Choose favorites. Chances are, there is room for character growth on your team. So, employ some Pavlovian tactics to foster collective change and accountability. First, identify those who already possess valuable traits: team players, helpers, and collaborative problem-solvers. Then, praise these folks in team meetings whenever an opportunity arises. Make it known to all that good behavior gets rewarded, and publicly praise them. When others see this, they will likely follow suit. It is human nature to crave recognition.

The growth into a leader of character is not a straight path; there will be hiccups and missteps along the way. After all, we are only human, and change takes time. Great character is not born; it is made through choices. And what you choose, you become. So, who do you want to be? If the answer is an effective leader who enjoys their work and inspires greatness, the path is clear. Lead with your core values and virtues, and the rest will follow.