Does Character Matter?

Authentic character is not turned off and turned on when it suits you. It’s who you are deep inside, and is revealed in everything you do.

Yesterday the Heisman organization voted on the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner. “The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.” On the morning of the vote two sports commentators were discussing Heisman finalist Cam Newton, quarterback of the Auburn University Tigers. Over the past year Cam has been under investigation for possible NCAA violations. The two commentators were in an intense debate over whether Cam should win the award in light of these allegations and other off field issues.

One commentator stated that if the mission of the Heisman organization was to select an athlete who exhibits and pursues excellence with integrity, then clearly Cam should not be selected. The other commentator said that the award should be based solely on what is done on the football field and the off field allegations should not factor in the Heisman’s decision.

For me the question then becomes DOES CHARACTER MATTER?

In this post-modern day era many people have redefined the meaning of character. For those of us who were around at the time of President Clinton, many people thought that his infidelity with an intern had nothing to do with being President of the United States of America. His supporters said it was his personal business and being President was separate from his personal life. Even today he is very well thought of in both political and private circles for his work as President.  In their minds a leader could live by two sets of standards.

For the record, I believe that one cannot be a true leader and live by two sets of standards, one at home and one at work. If you are unethical at home, you will be unethical at work. I do not see how you can turn it on and off.

What happens when character is not valued?  Presidential candidate John Edwards' infidelity cost him his family and a promising political career.  Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme bilked billions from investors that cost not only the investors, but this week his son apparently committed suicide under the weight of ongoing allegations of his possible involvement in the scheme.  The choices made by these two men revealed their true character. 

My question to you is does character matter?  The answer for me is a resounding yes!  How about you?  Are you willing to live by a set of positive standards that you will not compromise? 

Below are few of the character traits that I most admire in leaders:

• Integrity
• Honesty
• Humility
• Self-control
• Respect

If we are going to get better, we must demand better from our leaders.  When men and women possess positive character traits, the result is trust.  You know you can count on them to not only do what they say, but to live their lives in a manner consistent with the things they believe in.  Character is the essence of authentic leadership.

What are some of the positive character traits that you most admire?

Demanding Leadership

True leaders demand excellence from themselves, before they ask it of others.

Before you can demand something from others, you must demand it from yourself.  You have to practice what you preach.  If you are going to ask someone to be on time for a meeting, you have to be on time.  Leadership that is demanding is not about being a dictatorship, it is about excellence.  It is about eliminating mediocrity and pursuing excellence in everything you do. 

During a conversation with the CEO of a fortune 500 company he was talking about his commitment to safety.  He stated that if he was going to demand that his team practice safe work habits that he needed to make the same demand of himself.  This is a critical element missing in many leaders today.  “Do as I say, not as I do” seems to be the mantra of the day.

As a leader how can you demand anything from anyone if you do not hold yourself to a higher standard of conduct?  Have you ever had a boss tell you to do something they have never done before?  And yet, they assign you a task that may not have ever been done.  I remember a quote that a former supervisor told me and I will never forget it:  “nothing is impossible to those who do not have to do it.”  I remember sitting down with one of my billing clerks to learn more about the billing process.  My reason for doing it was to gain a better understanding of what they were doing and how they did it.  This allowed me to set more realistic goals for my clerks because I now knew what it took to get the job done.

Our job as leaders is to create an environment that fosters trust, integrity, credibility, and a successful work team.  If you set the right example by serving as a role model and having your actions speak loader than words, you will be a better leader. 

Credit Crisis

”There is no limit to what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.”
— Ronald Reagan


Now that the mid-term elections are over, the real fun begins, (can you hear my sarcasm?).  The past few weeks since the elections, the Democrats and Republicans have started in on each other once again to pass blame and to criticize the ideas and direction that each side believes is the best way for the country to move forward.  They talk about the “lame duck” session of congress and what they will try to push through.  Will they be able to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?”  Although this issue may be important to some, its resolution is not essential to turning the economy around.  

During the many interviews and face to face debates on the network and cable news stations, the phrases “The American People” and “The Future of our Children” come up often. Each time they do, my head feels like it wants to EXPLODE! With all of the talk about their concern about the American People it is quite apparent that they care very little about our current and future state.

While they bicker with each other, many Americans struggle to make ends meet.  They’re concerned about the cost of health care, about the economy, about high and burdensome tax rates, and the never ending spending of our financial resources on things that do not keep our people safe or enhance the quality of our lives.

Last week I was walking in our downtown area where I met two men sitting on a bench drinking coffee.  As I began to speak with them they said that this is the worst they have ever seen in terms of the economy.  They spoke of the struggle to find work, to pay bills and to get ahead.  This is what is on the minds of the American people.

Please hear me when I say that I am not expecting the government to take care of me or my family, I can do that myself.  What I am saying is that our elected leaders continue to miss the mark on what is truly important to us. For many of them it is about winning and losing the party fight.  It is about their personal agenda and making the other side look bad.  We must demand from our elected officials to put away partisan political games and get this country back on track, together.

We can accomplish great things when we “don’t care who gets the credit.”  

“No Thought, Just Action”

"It is courage, courage, courage, that raises the blood of life to crimson splendor. Live bravely and present a brave front to adversity." Horace

As he stood with his back to President Obama, Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta faced away with the cameras in his face and his wife in attendance to accept the Medal of Honor from his Commander in Chief.  Giunta is the first living service member to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan to be given the nation's highest honor.

As I looked at his face he did not have a big smile as I would have expected, but a stoic one.  Even after the President placed the medal around his neck, his expression did not change.  Why?  In an interview on 60 Minutes, he was asked about his feelings on receiving the award?  He simply said that he did not do anything his fellow soldiers would not have done.  He did what he was trained to do, “No thought, just action.”

What did he do?  The paratrooper and rifle team leader saved at least two comrades during combat on Oct. 25, 2007, in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan.  An insurgent ambush separated his team and he went into the open to pull one comrade to safety and then fought to free a dying friend who was being dragged away by Taliban fighters.

In another interview, he talked about not being an extraordinary soldier, but mediocre, and that there are a lot of soldiers fighting and engaged in the protection of the country that are better than he was, and who are more deserving of the award.”  That is exactly why he is deserving of the award!  True heroes don’t seek acclaim and recognition, they act.  It’s who they are, compassionate and self-sacrificing.

When he carried his friend’s body out of enemy territory he did not do so thinking that he would receive an award, “No Thought, Just Action.”

There is an important lesson to learn here.  Serving others is never about us, but about those we serve.  When faced with an opportunity to help someone else, take no thought, just act!

Leadership is more than a Title

During a Senatorial hearing on the Iraq war, a general was responding to one of our senators.  In answering her questions, he followed his military training and showed respect by always referring to her as ”ma’am.”  At one point during the hearing she stopped him and said, “Do me a favor.  Can you say ‘senator’ instead of ‘ma’am?’  It’s just a thing—I worked so hard to get that title.”  

Just because you have a leadership title does not make you a leader.  You may have the title and the responsibilities of a leader, but unless you recognize the importance of setting the proper example for those you lead, good luck with achieving real success.  Whether you are leading a business, a home or working in the community, setting the proper example instills the right behaviors.

While talking with a business owner who is struggling to maintain his business, he explained to me that he has lost his staff.  The primary reason for the loss is due to the fact that he did not know how to effectively lead people.  His past success came as an individual contributor and his lack of leadership skills has put his business in jeopardy.  Most of his problems come from his lack of setting the proper example for his team.  He is an owner, but not a leader.

As a leader you need to make sure that your team sees you effectively handling the affairs of the business.  Are you at work on time?  How do you communicate? How do you carry out your work?  Do you say what you are going to do and then do it?  These activities and character traits are the building blocks of respect and leadership.  In the end, if you have to remind people of your title, you may not be living up to it.

My Tribute

"...and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Matthew 20:27 NIV

Imagine seeing a small bald man with a large white beard running around a dining room with an energy that belies his 68 years.  I had never met a man with such energy at his age until I met Hendrik. Now, imagine all this in spite of the fact that he had been up since 1:00 am making breakfast for over 250 inner city residents of Oakland, CA. Many people half his age aren’t that energetic after a full night’s sleep!

This small-framed man with the great big heart has made a tremendous impact in his community.  It’s been more than 10 years since he started a small bible study of 10-12 residents, which turned into breakfast for hundreds of residents every Saturday.  He is quick to tell you that he did very little to cause the changes in the neighborhood.  That may be true, but as a result of his decision to accept the challenge to start a Bible study in the mean inner city streets of Oakland, a transformation has occurred.  The drug dealers that once stood on the corners surrounding the resource center he helped to establish are no longer there.  This is a huge accomplishment due to the fact that a contract was placed on his life as a result of his commitment to move the drug activity from the neighborhood.  His love for God and his love for the people of West Oakland have touched the lives of thousands all over Northern California.  As a leader he has shown extraordinary character. 

Traits that I most admire:

·       Strength

·       Integrity

·       Humility

·       Love for service

·       Unselfishness

·       Dedication and committment to the inner city residents of Oakland

·       NO Fear.

After 10 years he is now leaving for another opportunity to serve people in the mountains of Colorado.  He will surely be missed by so many.  He leaves a legacy of Love, Service, and Commitment behind that will last a lifetime for all those who knew him.

As a leader there is no greater accomplishment than to know that lives have been changed for the better because of your leadership.

Thanks Hendrik!  God bless you and your family.

Transformational Leadership

“Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.  What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? 
To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?  Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives or fall among the slain.  Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.”  Isaiah 10:1-4 NIV 

With the elections around the corner we hear from so many of the candidates who promise that if they are elected they are going to do so and so.  Once elected, we will soon discover that many of them will go back on their promises.  When questioned about why they have not kept their promises, they will say things like:  It will take time, I am working on it or they will go into spin mode.  For those candidates wanting to be re-elected, they too make promises.  My question has always been why you don’t do what you are promising to do now while you are in office?  Why wait until after the elections?  


What the American people really need is transformational leadership, leadership that makes a difference in the communities in which they serve.  Whether you are Republican or Democrat we continue to see poverty, crime, and poor public education.  It is not getting, and has not gotten any better and things go on as they have for decades.  We need leaders that will stand up for what is right for all Americans not just the ones that agree with them.  Our country needs leaders that can make a real and sustainable difference in the lives of its people.  


Our leaders need to be mindful that the leadership is not about their special interests, or lining their pockets.  It is about the greater good for all citizens of this country.  Every leader must know that they will be held accountable for the decisions they make, both good and bad.