Character-Driven Leadership

The Personal makes the Professional

The old adage that ‘a fish rots from its head’ holds real wisdom. So does the observation that ‘people don’t leave jobs, they leave managers’.

Leadership can transform situations, organisations, and societies for the better or the worse -- provide salvation to a seemingly hopeless situation, or snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Great leaders have rescued societies from the verge of collapse, rallying their people through common purpose. Some have used the same techniques effectively in the service of wicked ends -- enslaving and plundering their neighbours. Terrible leaders have doomed nations to starvation and ruin through short-sighted interventions, metastasising manageable problems into unmanageable ones.

A wise leader knows that sometimes the best choice is to do nothing -- to let events take their course and resolve of their own accord. Confucian and Taoist philosophies of leadership respect wilfully choosing to do nothing on occasion as a hallmark of great leadership.

Leadership may be on a very small scale: taking leadership to resolve a relational dynamic that warrants correction before getting any worse. One might employ leadership in a familial context, providing guidance and correction to children or a younger sibling.

One can also employ self-leadership via the ‘superego’ to forbid oneself a temptation, or to forego a treat until a tough job has been done to satisfaction.

I believe all leadership descends from this quality. Self-leadership gives you the moral authority to lead others by example. Without character, or a balance of virtues, you are unlikely to inspire followers for long. You may attract the mercenary-minded as fair-weather friends, but they will betray you when fortunes turn or the coffers run dry. Conversely, if your commitment to virtue seems too superhuman and unattainable, you are unlikely to inspire the typical citizen to a commonality of purpose either.

Inspiring others through a grand shared vision attracts ‘missionaries’ -- people who want their work spent on a purposeful outcome in which they find meaning. Something that speaks to the aspects of the human condition we all share: defence of our families, cherishing of tradition, liberation, compassion, good health, education, and friendship.

In an organisational context, leadership involves setting guidance for others within a formal or implicit hierarchy. Care must be taken not to overstep the bounds of authority, and to respect others’ autonomy as much as possible.

I have generally chosen to respect the autonomy and insights of colleagues within organisations or projects that I lead. I prefer to manage by objectives, trusting in good people, sharing my own passions and concerns, and showing how our combined efforts can benefit humanity and our planet.

If a leader can set a clear goal, outline the meaning behind its realisation, and empower those who follow to act on their own initiative within safe principles, they have a very good chance of prevailing.