[Vnbiz] Leadership -- Character and Traits

[Tran Dinh Hoanh]

 Dear CACC,

This article about leadership is taken from

http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadchr.html

Enjoy reading.  If you would like to explore some point further, by all
means please send in a note.

Have a great day!

Hoanh

_____________
 Leadership - Character and Traits Managers are people who do things right,
while leaders are people who do the right thing. - Warren Bennis, Ph.D. *On
Becoming a Leader* Building Excellence

Leaders do not command excellence, they build excellence. Excellence is
"being all you can be" within the bounds of doing what is right for your
organization. To reach excellence you must first be a leader of good
character. You must do everything you are supposed to do. An organizations
will not achieve excellence by figuring out where it wants to go, then
having leaders do whatever they have to in order to get the job done, and
then hope their leaders acted with good character. This type of thinking is
backwards. Pursuing excellence should not be confused with accomplishing a
job or task. When you do planning, you do it by backwards planning. But you
do not achieve excellence by backwards planning. Excellence starts with
leaders of good and strong character who engage in the entire process of
leadership. And the first process is being a person of honorable character.
Waste no time arguing what a good man should be. Be one. - Marcus Aurelius

Character develops over time. Many think that much of a person's character
is formed early in life. However, we do not know exactly how much or how
early character develops. But, it is safe to claim that character does not
change quickly. A person's observable behavior is an indication of her
character. This behavior can be strong or weak, good or bad. A person with
strong character shows drive, energy, determination, self-discipline,
willpower, and nerve. She sees what she wants and goes after it. She
attracts followers. On the other hand, a person with weak character shows
none of these traits. She does not know what she wants. Her traits are
disorganized, she vacillates and is inconsistent. She will attract no
followers.

A strong person can be good or bad. A gang leader is an example of a strong
person with a bad character, while an outstanding community leader is one
with both strong and good characteristics. An organization needs leaders
with both strong and good characteristics, people who will guide them to the
future and show that they can be trusted.
Courage - not complacency - is our need today. Leadership not salesmanship.
- John F. Kennedy

To be an effective leader, your followers must have *trust* in you and they
need to be sold on your vision. Korn-Ferry International, an executive
search company, performed a survey on what organizations want from their
leaders. The respondents said they wanted people who were both *ethical* and
who convey a *strong
vision*<http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadvision.html>of the
future. In any organization, a leader's actions set the pace. This
behavior wins trust, loyalty, and ensures the organization's continued
vitality. One of the ways to build trust is to display a good sense of
character composed of beliefs, values, skills, and traits:

*Beliefs* are what we hold dear to us and are rooted deeply within us. They
could be assumptions or convictions that you hold true regarding people,
concepts, or things. They could be the beliefs about life, death, religion,
what is good, what is bad, what is human nature, etc.

*Values* are attitudes about the worth of people, concepts, or things. For
example, you might value a good car, home, friendship, personal comfort, or
relatives. Values are important as they influence a person's behavior to
weigh the importance of alternatives. For example, you might value friends
more than privacy, while others might be the opposite.

*Skills* are the knowledge and abilities that a person gains throughout
life. The ability to learn a new skill varies with each individual. Some
skills come almost naturally, while others come only by complete devotion to
study and practice.

*Traits* are distinguishing qualities or characteristics of a person, while
character is the sum total of these traits. There are hundreds of
personality traits, far too many to be discussed here. Instead, we will
focus on a few that are crucial for a leader. The more of these you display
as a leader, the more your followers will believe and trust in you.
Traits of a Good Leader

Compiled by the Santa Clara University and the Tom Peters Group:

   - *Honesty -* Display sincerity, integrity, and candor in all your
   actions. Deceptive behavior will not inspire trust.
   - *Competent -* Your actions should be based on reason and moral
   principles. Do not make decisions based on childlike emotional desires or
   feelings.
   - *Forward-looking* Set goals and have a vision of the future. The
   vision must be owned throughout the organization. Effective leaders envision
   what they want and how to get it. They habitually pick priorities stemming
   from their basic values.
   - *Inspiring -* Display confidence in all that you do. By showing
   endurance in mental, physical, and spiritual stamina, you will inspire
   others to reach for new heights. Take charge when necessary.
   - *Intelligent -* Read, study, and seek challenging assignments.
   - *Fair-minded -* Show fair treatment to all people. Prejudice is the
   enemy of justice. Display empathy by being sensitive to the feelings,
   values, interests, and well-being of others.
   - *Broad-minded -* Seek out diversity.
   - *Courageous -* Have the perseverance to accomplish a goal,
   regardless of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Display a confident
   calmness when under stress.
   - *Straightforward -* Use sound judgment to make a good decisions at
   the right time.
   - *Imaginative -* Make timely and appropriate changes in your
   thinking, plans, and methods. Show creativity by thinking of new and better
   goals, ideas, and solutions to problems. Be innovative!

Retreat Hell! We've just got here! - Attributed to several World War I
Marine Corps officers, Belleau Wood , June 1918. (key ideal - take a stand)
Attributes

Attributes establish what leaders are, and every leader needs at least three
of them:

*Standard Bearers*

establish the ethical framework within an organization. This demands a
commitment to live and defend the climate and culture that you want to
permeate your organization. What you set as an example will soon become the
rule as unlike knowledge, ethical behavior is learned more by observing that
by listening. And in fast moving situations, examples become certainty.
Being a standard bearer creates trust and openness in your employees, who in
turn, fulfill your visions.

*Developers*

help others learn through teaching, training, and coaching. This creates an
exciting place to work and learn. Never miss an opportunity to teach or
learn something new yourself. Coaching suggests someone who cares enough to
get involved by encouraging and developing others who are less experienced.
Employees who work for developers know that they can take risks, learn by
making mistakes, and winning in the end.

*Integrators*

orchestrate the many activities that take place throughout an organization
by providing a view of the future and the ability to obtain it. Success can
only be achieved when there is a unity of effort. Integrators have a sixth
sense about where problems will occur and make their presence felt during
critical times. They know that their employees do their best when they are
left to work within a vision-based framework.
Goddam it, you will never get the Purple Heart hiding in a foxhole! Follow
me! - Captain Henry P. "Jim" Crowe, USMC, Guadalcanal, 13 January 1943. (key
words - follow me, NOT "go") Perspectives of Character and Traits Traits
(acronym - JJ did tie buckle)

   - *J* ustice
   - *J* udgment
   - *D* ependability
   - *I* nitiative
   - *D* ecisiveness
   - *T* act
   - *I* ntegrity
   - *E* nthusiasm
   - *B* earing
   - *U* nselfishness
   - *C* ourage
   - *K* nowledge
   - *L* oyalty
   - *E* ndurance

*The Image of Leadership* - John Schoolland

A leader's a man who commands much respect,
But due to the natures of all,
He's only as good as the image he casts
In the mirror that hangs on the wall.
He usually sees what he wants, and no more,
He's afraid to look deep in his soul.
He doesn't consider himself as at fault,
But wants others to help reach his goal.
When failures arise he blames it on all
Who failed to help or take part,
"They never did what they were told, " he would say,
"they haven't the skill or the art."
What kind of a leader are you going to be - the kind who thinks he is the
best?
Or will you be one of the very few greats
Who attributes success to the rest.
Don't fail to look at the help you received
>From parents and friends all your life.
They comforted you, praised you, and gave you the push
To help you through trouble and strife.
Another whose help you should never forget,
Who gave you your life and His love,
The One to whom all of our assets are known
Is the One whom we pray to above.
Be humble in all of your leadership traits.
Thank those who have made you so tall.
Be human to others, consider them too,
Then smile through the glass on the wall.

-- 
Tran Dinh Hoanh, LLB, JD
Attorney of Law
Washington DC
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