Character matters. Or does it?

(These comments on Leadership  and Character were originally posted at LearningEntrepreneurship.com and later included in Don’t Do It the Hard Way (2020 Edition).

Results are all that matter.

Wrong. Character matters.

Sometimes we learn more than we ever wanted to know about our leaders, role models, and heroes in society. That knowledge then leaves us with an awkward question to consider. Should we dismiss everything they ever accomplished because of their obvious character flaws and their past immoral, unethical, or criminal behaviour?

Many people choose to ignore the character and behaviour their heroes and their leaders because they have valued, respected, and admired their ideas and the work they’ve done. Many of us have since learned to regret the choices we’ve made and recognize that character does matter.

However, looking back on more recent choices and in spite of what we know, we’ve repeated the same choices and appointed the same flawed characters to leadership roles.

Morality and ethics matter

Why is it important to assess character, morality, and ethics in choosing our leaders and role models? Because we want to be reassured that the results will be achieved according to acceptable moral and ethical principles that go beyond personal ego and self interest.

If you’re a corporate CEO, a politician, an entertainer, or an entrepreneur and business manager, your performance is continuously being assessed based on the results you achieve. Does it matter how they are achieved?

Some people think not. Results are all that matter. Especially if the results are what they want and they can ignore the consequences, side-effects, and collateral damage to other people. They’re wrong.  Character matters. Ethics, morality, attitude and behaviour matter. Tactics and methods matter. Words matter.

Sometimes the desired results may appear to have been achieved regardless of the behaviour. Immoral, ruthless, and abusive behaviour may even appear to have been necessary to achieve the results. Wrong again.

The apparent short-term gains will eventually be lost to the long-term accumulation of negative reactions and an understanding of the lasting consequences. Those who are used and abused will get even. A legacy of accomplishment may be completely dismissed and the legacy rewritten when the true character of past leadership is revealed.

Leadership is not just about having a vision, a strategy, and a plan. It’s also about showing the way, leading by example, and demonstrating the attitudes and behaviour that are expected of other contributors to the success of the team or the organisation.

In the process, leaders reveal the qualities of their character and the guiding principles that are important to them. They cannot hide whether they are driven by their ambition to succeed in a competitive environment and create value for society or they are driven by a ruthless desire for personal wealth, power and influence. Their character is easily perceived by their actions – whether they are thoughtful, compassionate, wise, respectful of others and responsible to the community and the planet, or they are ruthless, reckless, irresponsible and uncaring of the consequences for people and the planet in their determination to advance their personal interests.

Remarkably, both types of leaders attract a following – associates and employees, clients and customers, admirers, friends and followers. And they both have a multiplying effect as their leadership style, guiding principles, and behaviour are imitated outside the organisation.

Maybe character doesn’t matter? 

Maybe any style of leadership is acceptable if the desired performance and results are achieved?

The autocratic leader who succeeds by bluff, bullshit, and bullying seems to be very popular with those who have decided that getting what they want justifies any behaviour to achieve it. Leaders who are less arrogant, less aggressive, and seek to advance progress and performance through persuasion, negotiation, compromise and collaboration are having more difficulty in accomplishing their stated objectives. It is hard to convince followers who are impatient and unwilling to understand the issues that defy simple solutions.

But leaders of good character build better teams, achieve more sustainable progress for the organisation, and contribute greater long-term value to society.

So, if recent experience contradicts our expectations and understanding of what’s important, then what can we learn as enlightened entrepreneurs of good character?  

First: Stop pontificating high-minded principles and brave plans for the future. Get shit done, now! People who want to follow your lead need to know that you can and will actually deliver what you promise. 

Then: Don’t lie about what you actually accomplished, don’t take credit for something you did not do, don’t make excuses or look for somebody else to blame. Then you’ll attract a cult-like following of true believers, motived supporters, and qualified players to join your team. And get more shit done! 

If you prove you’re qualified, and demonstrate the values and ethics of good character, your followers will work as hard as you do and to push through all the hell and high water that may lie ahead.  

Who do you choose to follow? What kind of leader do you choose to be?

Be an Enlightened Entrepreneur.

Your Uncle Ralph,

Del Chatterson

Learn more about Enlightened Entrepreneurship at: LearningEntrepreneurship.com 

For more of Uncle Ralph's advice for Entrepreneurs read Don't Do It the Hard Way & The Complete Do-It-Yourself Guide to Business Plans.

Read the most recent blog posts at LearningEntrepreneurship Blogs.