| Leadership that goes the distance |
If you could improve one quality in yourself to increase your leadership ability, what would you choose? If you're like the majority of people, you would probably like to increase your charisma. After all, that's what initially attracts followers, right?
Author Anthony Trollope once said, "Marvelous is the power which can be exercised, almost unconsciously, over a company or an individual or even upon a crowd by one person gifted with good temper, good digestion, good intellect, and good looks." What he's describing are the effects of charisma. It's very valuable to leadership, but unfortunately the effects of charisma are only temporary. Strong charisma will get you in the door with people, but it can never sustain your influence by itself.
When it comes to lasting influence, nothing is more important than character. As Robert A. Cook noted, "There is no substitute for character. You can buy brains, but you cannot buy character." It's the inner fiber of a person, and it's essential to ensuring that your leadership goes the distance. Here's why:
Character sets you apart
There was a time when the people who lacked integrity stood out from the crowd. Unfortunately, now the opposite is true. So when you consistently exhibit strong character over a period of time, people take notice. Billy Graham is a good example of this. Every President since Harry Truman has sought his leadership and wise counsel--a result of his lifetime of unwavering integrity.
It's true that charisma can make a person stand out for a moment, but character sets a person apart for a lifetime.
Character creates trust
Charisma can draw people to you, but it gives them no reason to trust you. With character, you build trust with others each time you choose integrity over image, truth over convenience, or honor over personal gain.
PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Craig Weatherup explains, "You don't build trust by talking about it. You build it by achieving results, always with integrity and in a manner that shows real personal regard for the people with whom you work." Character makes trust possible. Trust is the foundation of leadership.
Character communicates consistency
NBA great, Jerry West, commented, "You can't get too much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good." Leaders with inner strength can be counted on day after day because their ability to lead remains constant. If your people know what they can expect from you, they will continue to look to you for leadership.
Character promotes potential
John Morely said, "No man can climb out beyond the limitations of his own character." When a leader's character is strong, people trust him, and they trust his ability to release their potential because he has taken steps to reach his own. That not only gives followers hope for the future, but it also promotes a strong belief in themselves and in their organization.
Conclusion
If you're currently leading people, you probably have some measure of both charisma and character. The question is, which one are you relying on to lead? The answer can be found in your response to this question: As time goes by, is it easier or harder to sustain your influence within your organization? With charisma alone, influence becomes increasingly more difficult to sustain. With character, as time passes, influence builds and requires less work to sustain.
Take some time to evaluate your character. Ask yourself the hard questions, then if necessary commit to making changes to ensure you are building a stronger foundation of trust among your people.
This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter "Leadership Wired" available at http://www.injoy.com. |
