The Four Pillars of Character
Character can be defined as the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.
When you think about your character, what pillars govern your day-to-day life? If you are a person who manages people, it will serve you well to subscribe to a set of values, which in turn directs your character.
It may be useful to think about an attribute of a leader whom you revere. Is this something you practice? Self-reflection can give you a reinvigorated purpose to strive to be more like the leader you want to be.
In addition to using the information you have in front of you to help shape your behavior, and leveraging self-reflection as a tool for continued self-betterment, look also to the four pillars of character, which include:
Trustworthiness
Respect
Responsibility
Fairness
To get you well on your way, refer to the below when aiming to give your character a tune-up.
Trustworthiness is the most complex of the four values in that it includes honesty, integrity, reliability, and loyalty. If you choose to put emphasis on this pillar of character, know that you must be honest. You must also be reliable (do what you say you are going to do) and must not deceive, cheat, or steal. Further, you must have the courage to do the right thing.
Treating people with respect is a surprisingly easy way to not only connect with others but to actively create a trustworthy environment. Remind yourself to be tolerant of differences and be considerate of others. Respect is a noticeable behavior: get caught in the act!
Responsible people demonstrate self-restraint and exhibit the ability to respond to expectations. While you must persevere to be a responsible person, you must also think before you act. Responsible people must both consider the consequences and be accountable for their choices.
Fairness implies adherence to a balanced standard of justice. This means you must play by the rules while remaining open-minded. Be sure to not blame others or take advantage.
It may go without saying, but embracing these pillars of character will poise you to be a more effective manager and in turn, a more ethical person.
Learnings based on the academic findings of the Josephson Institute, 2008.