I invite you to read the following and guess the source of this statement about character and integrity. You’ll find a link to the source at the end. (Small edits and deletions have been made in order to not give away the source.)
Character is the foundation of successful leadership. Character is one’s moral compass, and the sum of those qualities of moral excellence, which compel a person to do the right thing despite pressure or temptations to the contrary. If you allow your character to be compromised, you will never be able to stand strong in your future. The flaws in your character now will only be amplified [when you are] under great pressure.
So it is important to build and keep your character. There are some basic fundamentals to help develop your character: trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, and fair-mindedness. Trustworthiness is one of the major foundations of a person’s character. A person must be honest; don’t deceive, cheat or steal. Reliability and loyalty also help assemble trustworthiness. A person needs to be reliable and dependable.
Responsibility and respect are two other fundamentals to help form your character. As mentioned earlier, reliability means you must do everything you are expected to do. Responsibility builds onto reliability in the fact that you need to consider the consequences and be accountable for your choices in action. A leader must take responsibility for their subordinate’s decisions. In simple words, give the praise but take the blame. This basically comes down to respect. Treat others with respect and follow the golden rule, treat others as you would want to be treated. While working with people, ensure you are peaceful when dealing with anger, disagreements and insults. This will show and gain much respect.
It is imperative to show fair treatment to all people. Display empathy by being sensitive to the feelings, values, interests, and wellbeing of others. Fairness also means playing by the rules and not taking advantage of others. To reach excellence you must first be a leader of good character. These four foundations will help build your character but simply, if one lives by the core values of integrity, service before self and excellence in all you do, your character will be built and maintained for a lifetime.
Ready to see the source? Click here!
May we all be inspired to aspire to these values no matter what our politics or beliefs.
