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Leadership is a Big Door that Swings on the Small Hinge of Character

Nov 05, 2019

 

“Leadership ………. is like a big door that swings.  But that big door of leadership swings on the small hinge of character.”

                                                                                          - Admiral James Stavridis (Ret.)

 

I was recently listening to an interview with Retired Admiral James Stavridis, who was out promoting his new book on leadership, Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character.   

 

I have to admit, I was half-listening to the interview while I was working out, when the admiral said something and made me immediately stop and go running for a pen and paper to write it down when he shared,

 

“Leadership is how we influence others.  It is like a big door that swings.  But that big door of leadership swings on the small hinge of character.”

 

These words have stayed with me over the last week since listening to this interview.  I have asked myself time and again, “How can I bring a greater degree of character to my leadership and how can I inspire others to do the same?”

Unfortunately, “character” is not a word that comes to mind for many of us when we look to describe our leaders of today.  However, like anything we want to change in life, the change must begin with us.  With that being said, here are nine qualities of character I believe great leaders display.  These are characteristics (get the pun) each of us can practice to show up as better leaders in our lives.

Inspired by one of my teachers and great leader in his own right, Dr. Roger W. Teel, I have decided to use the acronym C.H.A.R.A.C.T.E.R. to describe these qualities 😊.

 

 

  • CCommitment to serve – Leaders of great character are committed to service. One of my favorite quotes comes from author, William Arthur Ward who said, “We must be silent before we can listen.  We must listen before we can learn.  We must learn before we can prepare.  We must prepare before we can serve.  And we must serve before we can lead.”  We must serve before we can lead, for me this one of leadership’s most important tenants.  What strikes me about this is that it does not only refer to the service of others (which is incredibly important in leadership), but it also means serving or taking care of ourselves.  We are truly at our best when we give from a full cup.  Or as my good friend, Kirk M. Samuels says, “My cup is so full, I give from my saucer.”  Leaders understand that they must take care of themselves, so they can help take care of others.  It is from the place of fullness that we can then do magical things with our service.  This not only means providing those in need with services they require in the moment, but importantly it gives others the inspiration and direction to become fully self-sustainable and empowered themselves.  Where do you have an opportunity to greater commit yourself to service in your role as a leader? 
  • HHonor your word – In his article, Integrity: Without it Nothing Works, Michael C. Jensen, shares the important distinction between “keeping” one’s word and “honoring” our word. In our fast-paced lives with many distractions and challenges hitting us from many directions, it is not always easy to keep our word.  We arrive late for meetings, we miss important events with our family and friends, or we fail to meet due dates on important projects.  While we should always strive to “keep” our word, this does not always happen.  Strong leaders understand this, and as a result, focus on “honoring” their word.  This means “keeping” your word at all times possible, but when that is not going to happen, take accountability for this lapse in integrity; acknowledge it, apologize for it and take actions to correct it.  For example, do you have someone in your circle who is compulsively late for everything?  They may provide a slight apology for delaying the meeting, but as this behavior happens time and again, you have begun to distrust them a leader as you realize this is a habit, they have no intention of changing.  Leaks in  our integrity, over time, can have a devastating impact on our character as leaders.  Where do you have an opportunity to up-level “honoring” your word?
  • AAttainment = Accomplishment + Becoming – While results and accomplishments achieved are critical to success in any organization, great leaders understand that a person’s growth and development does not stop there. In his book, Parenting Champions, author and success coach, Lanny Bassham shares that while many leaders focus purely on accomplishments, where a true person develops is in attainment.  Bassham defines attainment as the accomplishment of what we achieve combined with the person we become along the process.  As leaders, it is easy to focus just on the results people produce and contribute to the bottom line.  However, great leaders understand that the greatest results come when we assist those we lead in becoming the best version of ourselves AS they accomplish great things.  Within our lives, the memory of the accomplishments we achieved while being guided by a leader may come and go, but we will always remember the person they helped us become while in their tutelage.  Where to you have an opportunity to have someone reach attainment and become the best they can be in your role as a leader?
  • RRise to the occasion – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is quoted as saying, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in moments of challenge and controversy.” Throughout history, the people who are most revered today, did not begin with acts or messages that were popular in their day.  On the contrary, MLK, Ghandi, Lincoln, Mandela and even Jesus spoke messages that to many were far beyond the status quo, and as a result, very unpopular to those who resisted change.  However, they knew what they proclaimed in their messages were the right things to do and they rose to the occasion to proclaim it, despite the malice, criticism or potential harm that came their way.  Where do you have an opportunity to stand up for what is right as a leader, even if it is not easy or the popular thing to do?
  • AAdmit and own your mistakes and then move to correct them – We all make mistakes. Recognizing and admitting to our errors and then correcting them as leaders, inspires others and solidifies our position as an authentic and empowered leader.  Take a look at our modern society.  We are very forgiving of people who have errored, admitted to it and then changed their life around for the better (several actors, politicians and athletes come to mind).  I believe this happens because deep down inside, we all believe we have flaws we would like to correct.  When leaders take accountability for their mistakes and take appropriate action to correct them, this actually brings them closer to their communities and organizations, rather than separate them.  In a word, it makes these leaders relatable.  It also gives permission to the people they lead to be vulnerable and authentic.  This brings out the best in everyone and creates an environment of empowerment rather than one which causes people to live in fear by hiding their faults and weaknesses.  Where do you have an opportunity to take accountability for and correct your errors in your role as a leader?
  • CCapability – The world of leadership places a strong emphasis (and with good reason) on accountability. Holding yourself or others accountable for their actions is seen a strong attribute of any leader.  However, I believe great leaders take this concept and nuance it to be even more powerful.  Rather than holding those they lead accountable, great leaders hold the members of their teams or organizations capable.  In this nuanced approach, we see the best in others, communicate to them that we do and hold them capable of showing up and producing results as the most empowered versions of themselves.  In doing this, we remove the judgement and negative connotation that can result by being held accountable and replace it with a more empowered and affirmative version of claiming and uplifting someone’s potential – holding them capable of their innate greatness.  Where do you have an opportunity to hold someone capable in your role as a leader?
  • TTreat others with kindness and respect, especially those least important to you – The greatest leaders I have witnessed, are those who are kind and respectful to others despite their role or status level. I am very blessed to have two amazing martial artists and men that I am honored to call my instructors.  The first, is Bill “Superfoot” Wallace.  An undefeated world champion and considered to be the world’s greatest kicker, Grandmaster Wallace still travels the globe today, some four-and-a-half decades since he won his first world title, teaching seminars to aspiring students.  In over 33 years with him, I have participated in and assisted him in countless seminars.  Sometimes, hundreds of people attend these trainings.  However, at each outing, without fail, he spends considerable amounts of time talking, joking with and just connecting with everyone he encounters.  It doesn’t matter if it is a beginning student or a fellow seasoned grandmaster instructor, he shows the same kindness, respect and of course, good-natured ribbing to everyone.  He has certainly impacted me, as I strive to emulate his example in my role as a martial arts instructor, a public speaker and a leader.  Where do you have an opportunity to lead from a greater place of respect and kindness?
  • EEnvision the best in and others and support them. Great leaders see the best in others and support them in reaching their best.  The other man I am so honored to call my martial arts teacher is Grandmaster Jae Kyu Lee.  I began my training with Grandmaster Lee when I was only 13 years old and I attribute him still as being one of the most influential people in my life, over four decades later.  In one of my first classes with Grandmaster Lee, he recognized and helped me to envision my promise and potential as a martial artist when he looked at me and said, “I will make you a champion!”  I still don’t know why, but in just hearing those words, I knew they had to be true.  I guess when someone you love, admire and respect sees the best in you and claims it for you, then it becomes possible for you to believe it and then envision it for yourself.  As a martial arts teacher, leader and coach, I have done my best to see the grand potential in those I serve and do my best to inspire them to see it in themselves.  Where to do you have an opportunity as a leader to recognize the greatness in someone, share your observations and inspire that person to envision that for themselves?
  • RRespect others – While I spoke of respect previously, I believe there is an even deeper way we can demonstrate this quality of character in our role as leaders. Great leaders respect not only other’s time, as noted above, but also their points of view, their ideas of change, their struggles and their vulnerabilities.  They may not agree with them, but they will always listen and give others the courtesy of being heard.  As leaders, being fully engaged and present with those we lead when we are interacting with them can be one of our most powerful skills as a leader.  People who feel heard feel empowered and are more willing to respect others, as well.  Where do you have an opportunity to increase your level of respect you show others in your life?

 

 9-Day Character in Leadership Challenge

This week I challenge all of us to take part in what I am calling the 9-Day Character in Leadership Challenge (I wanted it to be 7 days, but the word character has nine letters in it 😊).

It works like this – Each day choose one of the Leadership Character Attributes listed above to focus on for the day (e.g. Day One, focus on Commitment to Serve and Day Two, Honoring your Word, etc.).  Then, throughout the course of the day, each time you open a door to enter a room, office or building (sliding doors, revolving doors or open entry ways can still count), pause of a moment ask yourself how you can bring that attribute to the situation.  For instance, walking into a meeting room on Day One, you could silently ask yourself, “How can I bring a commitment to serve to this meeting?”

I encourage all of us to give this a try and notice how bringing this intentionality can transform you as a leader and allow you to make the greatest impact on those you lead – including yourself. 

Remember, leadership is a big door, but it swings on a small hinge called character.

 

Chris Natzke

Black Belt Leadership Speaking & Coaching

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