“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.

Only through experience of trial and suffering

can the soul be strengthened,

vision cleared,

ambition inspired,

and success achieved.” – Helen Keller

Developing your character!

Now that ranks right up there at the top of the list as one of life’s vital behaviors. It has been observed that the quality and intensity of ones character determines to what degree their leadership is projected, followed and trusted. That includes self-leadership—trust in yourself.

One way of looking at character is to see it as the living walk and talk and spirit of: humility, moral courage, caring, integrity, and perseverance. It’s all about your integrity. Strongly developed character demands that you are personally guided by principles, moral depth, and integrity to do the right thing in all instances.

So how do you form and strengthen your personal character? It has been said that, “character is tempered in the crucible of adversity.”  Adversity is sewn from the fabric of life’s trials and challenges.

This posits the practical meaning that the building of character most likely occurs outside your comfort zone…when life is difficult, confrontations relentless and answers hard to come by. It’s in the crisis of health, family, career and society. It’s in the physical, spiritual and moral challenges of survival.

It is in the crucible of change and crisis where the fodder to build your character is formed. From the toughest challenges in life you reap the greatest gifts.

Facing these challenges presents you the chance to discover who you truly are and what you believe in. Rather than whine, complain and go into the woe-is-me mentality—gain strength and fortitude by facing and accepting adversity as a blessing from which you will learn, persevere and build the character that gives quality to your life. Look for and recognize adversity as opportunity to grow.

Dealing with adversity determines the purity of your heart and mind.  Ray Blunt, Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute tells us that the process offers an “opportunity to hone your strength, temper your inner power and emerge transformed, balanced and invigorated. More alive than ever.” He suggest you do that by thinking of it as three life courses:

Course I. Live with Purpose: The core character course. It has two facets: one is finding and then living out a guiding purpose,

a life mission; the second facet is then placing a touchstone at the place of the core values –a place where you return to check yourself periodically.

Course II. Gain Wisdom from Mentors: Find someone who has the wisdom and the character that you would like to emulate–not a perfect person, but one that embodies many aspects of your own purpose and core values and is further down the road of life. Develop a mentoring relationship with someone whom you can trust with your thoughts, your life purpose, and your heart–even your flaws.

Course III. Be Engaged in a Community of Practice. Experience a community of people where mutual learning, support, and even accountability occur and where mutual purposes are shared. It is here that values are passed on, that the culture is embedded, and where the very stuff of intellectual, emotional, social, and character capital is born.

In their treatise on developing leadership character, Crossan, Gandz and Seijts define the process by explaining that, “When it comes to leadership, competencies determine what a person can do. Commitment determines what they want to do, and character determines what they will do.” They go on to talk about the six pillars of character development:

Trustworthiness

Be honest • Don’t deceive, cheat, or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends, and country

Respect

Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant and accepting of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements

Responsibility

Do what you are supposed to do • Plan ahead • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes • Set a good example for others

Fairness

Play by the rules • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame others carelessly • Treat all people fairly

Caring

Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need

Citizenship

Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment • Volunteer

(Developing Leadership Character, Ivey Business Journal, Mary Crossan, Jeffrey Gandz, and Gerard Seijts)

Watch and see how the father in this video deals with adversity, completing a triathlon with his son—

 

 

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” – Maya Angelou