THE MAKING OF A C.E.O- THE PLACE OF CHARACTER IN HARNESSING INFLUENCE AS A CORPORATE LEADER.
THE PLACE OF CHARACTER IN HARNESSING INFLUENCE AS A CORPORATE LEADER.
The heart cry of the late civil right leader Martin Luther King jr. that men be judged not by their appearance, but by the content of their character shows the relevance of good character for any leader who is effective and wishes to continue being effective.
A leader's character, good or bad can inspire others to greatness or discourage them from trying. This is seen in the life of Luther who could not have been able to harness such a massive crowd, channeling them to pursue a course, without the display of the virtue called CHARACTER.
The essence of this post is to help you understand how character affects your performance as an individual or organisation by granting you insight into the traits of excellent character display.
GENUINE CARE: An expression of care and understanding for the people you work with is a mark of good character. While a respectful distance must be maintained in a working relationship, genuine concern for the people under your wings of leadership is paramount. An effective leader who wishes to be compassionate must "walk around in another person's shoes, and climb around under their skin, to understand what it looks like from their side of the ledger".
RESPECT: Effective leaders with excellent character do not just command respect for themselves, but also relinquish it to people across all levels. They are courteous, never demeaning, accepting from others and appreciates hearing opposite view points. This result in people feeling valued and respected and will in turn appreciate the leader by showing the same respect with a deep sense of loyalty.
EXCELLENCE: Leaders with good character exude excellence and prudence in handling corporate matters, and with excellence comes responsibility. Thus, these Leaders take responsibility for their actions, even when it means owning up-to the mistakes of their followers. They have a strong sense of accountability and teach same to their members.