BENCHMARKS OF ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

A) Topic this month: Character Training: The new leadership essential quality.

In today?s environment, leadership training is not enough. Our fast-track employees must also be well versed on the impact of their character on career advancement.

Below are some great wisdom quotes:

Character develops itself in the stream of life.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

A man's character is the reality of himself; his reputation, the opinion others have formed about him; character resides in him, reputation in other people; that is the substance, this is the shadow.

Henry Ward Beecher

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it;

the tree is the real thing.

Abraham Lincoln

Only a man's character is the real criterion of worth.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Our character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character...

Stephen R. Covey

What is character? It is the underlying theme and root of our actions. Quality of character resides at the seat of the soul. Today more than ever, we are expecting solid character out of our top-level executives. It is something, however, rarely addressed as part of traditional leadership training.

The March 15th edition of The Wall Street Journal ?online,? Carol Hymowitz authors an article titled ?The Perils of Picking CEO?s.? In this article she highlights the changing trend of detailed background checks and investigations prior to appointing board members and top-level executives. Many individuals are pulled right out of contention for a position through the unearthing of character flaws demonstrated in past actions uncovered. Conduct does matter, both inside and outside the corporation. In order to address this we need to follow several key steps in the formation of the next generation leadership training.

We must begin by creating awareness for our potential leaders. Awareness is the shocking realization that everyday conduct provides a window into character. This character will matter. Once awareness is created, we begin the culture change process. In order to evoke culture change, a task force should be created to identify the category of character in our ranks, how to spot it and ultimately reward it. Reinforcing and celebrating solid repeated patterns of good character will ensure repetition. Finally, we need to formally incorporate sections of character training within our leadership programming.

Character training is a component of the next generation of leadership. Developing a culture that recognizes and values this top level quality should be of highest priority.

Nathan

Nathan J. Greeno

President

Drawing Board Consulting Group

"We Maximize Your Return on Human Capital Investment!?

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15419 Snowhill Lane

Centreville VA 20120

V. 703-815-1924

F. 571.522.1924

W. www.drawingboardconsulting.com

E. nathan@drawingboardconsulting.com

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