100 Ways To Help Student Leaders Succeed [#12]
Character Counts
“Character is the will to do what’s right even when it’s hard.” – Andy Stanley.
One of the things that makes a huge difference between successful and unsuccessful leaders is whether they are character-driven or emotion-driven. It's important to note that I'm talking about what drives a person in leadership. This is not a case against emotions. Emotions are important indicators in our lives. Without them, we become senseless robots and are left relationally-challenged.
But when our emotions become the overriding factor in how we operate, they can derail our leadership quickly. Character is the ability to keep our emotions in check; to gauge the feelings that we have against the circumstances that we find ourselves and make good choices.
It's often dangerous to make broad, sweeping generalizations. That's why I would consider the following differences as the tendencies and temptations of a leader who is driven more by character or by his/her emotions:
Character-driven leaders do right, then feel good, while emotion-driven leaders feel good, then do right.
Emotions can easily betray the best of intentions. A leader must be committed to certain principles (more on that below) that will sometimes fly in the face of good feelings. Yet, a character-driven leader will feel great satisfaction and comfort in knowing that they can trust in certain principles, even if there is a tug in a different direction by their emotions. The leader who always waits to feel good before starting a project or accomplishing a task, might be waiting for quite awhile. This isn't to say that a leader shouldn't trust his/her instincts or pay attention to timing issues. One must be wary of letting personal feelings get in the way of doing the right kinds of things and making the right kinds of decisions.
Character-driven leaders are commitment driven, while emotion-driven leaders are convenience driven.
I once heard it said that partial obedience isn't obedience at all, it's merely convenience. The bottom line here is that when we make a commitment to something, we are intentionally limiting our options in hopes of something good or great. We're willing to make sacrifices of certain things in order to obtain better things. Those with a convenience mindset like to keep their options open. They are also hard to depend on and trust. Trust is the foundation of any leadership endeavor. If the people who follow you realize that their commitment level to a task or project is higher than your own, they will soon leave you behind.
Character-driven leaders make principle-based decisions, while emotion-driven leaders make popular-based decisions.
Principles are the defining values that have stood the test of time. Things like honesty, integrity, excellence, servanthood, compassion are all principles and causes worth fighting for. It is one thing for a leader to admit to living by these principles, it's another to lead by them when difficult decisions have to be made. Those who would forfeit the value of longheld principles for the shortterm pleasure of pleasing the crowd, whittle away at the foundation of their leadership (trust...remember...people want to know what you stand for...beat the drum for...will take the hill for!).
Character-driven leaders let action control their feelings, while emotion-driven leaders let feelings control their actions.
In this instance, I would offer an example: Let's say that it's time for me to get on the treadmill and run a few miles. Initially, I may not have the go-for-it feeling that drives me to put on my running shoes and hop on. But that doesn't stop me from running on the treadmill. In fact, once I'm on the treadmill and have run a few miles, I find that my feelings change...for the better. Character-driven leaders realize that they often must act their way into feeling, rather than feel their way into acting.
Character-driven leaders believe it, then see it, while emotion-driven leaders see it, then believe it.
This speaks of vision. Do you realize that sometimes our emotions can get in the way of clearly seeing the possibilities of the future? It's the difference between being proactive and reactive. When we rely too heavily on our emotions, we may find ourselves paralyzed by fear, doubt, or a nagging sense of needing everything to be perfect before we proceed. Character-driven leaders realize that there will be good days and bad days in the attempt to do what's right. It is this belief in pursuing a right path that helps them to see their dreams come true.
Character-driven leaders create momentum, while emotion-driven leaders wait for momentum.
Basically, this is the difference between the person who can make things happen and the one who waits for others to make things happen. Those who are emotion-driven tend to wait for someone else to come along and help them feel better when they're down. They may get excited for a period of time, motivated by their good feelings, but when times get tough, they lack the fortitude to continue to lead the team. Character-driven leaders find ways to build on the momentum, celebrate the highs, and seek out small victories when spirits are down. This is because they have their eye on things like purpose, mission, and excellence.
Character-driven leaders ask: "What are my responsibilities?", while emotion-driven leaders ask: "What are my rights?"
This is straight out of Leadership 101. When a person assumes a leadership role, they begin the process of forfeiting their own rights as they assume greater responsibility. The issue of "personal rights" is relegated to a lesser priority than accomplishing the mission or goals of the organization. Emotion-driven leaders tend to focus more on their own feelings, which leads to a greater sense of self-absorption. Once again, feelings are an important indicator and signal that something may not be quite right. But they can also leave a leader overly-worried about his/her own ability to thrive and survive.
Character-driven leaders continue when problems arise, while emotion-driven leaders quit when problems arise.
One of the reasons that people tend to avoid problems is because of the way that they make a person feel. Problems don't usually conjure up happy thoughts or happy feelings. That is why the emotion-driven leader may have a tendency to avoid problems. They will typically move in directions that will bring about positive feelings. Character-driven leaders move ahead despite, or even better, in the midst of problems. In fact, those who are successful in leadership realize that nothing significant or worthwhile is accomplished without adversity in some form. Otherwise, everyone would do it.
Character-driven leaders are steady, while emotion-driven leaders are moody.
Here's another "C" word...consistency. I've worked for people who wore their emotions on their sleeve. Whenever you approached them, you didn't know which person was going to greet you - the angry one or the happy one. That's not to say that people shouldn't get angry or express their happiness. This is more a matter of approachability. What if the people you lead always felt like they had to approach you "only when you're in a good mood?" That would be a detriment to the team, to morale, and to your effectiveness as a leader.
Character-driven leaders are leaders, while emotion-driven leaders are followers.
Remember, the key word here is "driven." I don't believe that a person should keep their emotions all bottled-up inside of him/herself. But, in my opinion, a leader is one who is able to keep his/her emotions in check, and to not allow those emotions to be the guiding force in their life. At the heart of good character is the ability to lead oneself.
Note: The outline for this list was adapted from material produced by Injoy, Inc. I've had the list in my files for some time and am not sure of the exact resource, but wanted to cite my sources as best I could.
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