Does Character Matter?

I love sports, and now that the college and professional football seasons are over, I want to examine an area I’ve been thinking a lot about lately.  There has been limitless discussion about the character of college and professional athletes.  A few guys have done some pretty disgusting things in the past few years, and that has raised the issue of character many times.

Does it really matter if one player in college has a stellar reputation while another has questionable behavior off the field?  What if their abilities are the same?  Should one player be favored in the NFL draft over another just based on character?

Or what if a pro is involved in some despicable act, and wants that to be put aside in order to be picked up by another team?  Should we provide an opportunity for a second chance?  After all, America is a country of second chances.  And does any particular act or incident disqualify someone from ever playing football or baseball or basketball again?

Such sports examples make me think of those areas in our own businesses where we have to question whether character counts.  If an employee commits a minor infraction in one area, does it make him susceptible to a more significant one in another area?  Can we overlook a modest deception by a staff member, or is that symptomatic of a far bigger problem?  Such questions arise in businesses every day, and decisions about the hiring or termination of people are a constant challenge.

My conclusion: Character does matter.  It matters because character is the outward expression of what is going on inside.  Character is the aggregate of our thoughts, choices, and decisions revealed in our behavior and actions.  Ultimately, it is the essence of each of us.  It is the reflection of who we really are.  So the next time someone stumbles in an area in question, look a little deeper to see if there is a question of character within.

 
Here are a few Business & Life Tips to think about…..

Business Tips:

• Leaders impact the lives of those around them whether they know it or not. Be a positive influence and a leader people follow.
• Your personal “brand” is the sum of your reputation, your expertise, and the value that others place on your ability to deliver.
• A good leader will use her emotional intelligence to become an even more influential leader of people. Will you?

Life Tips:

• People with character stand for ideals that lead to noble actions and reactions to life experiences, challenges, and even crises.
• If you want to gain wisdom, listen to wise counsel. Only a fool would delude himself into thinking he knows it all.
• Forgiveness and forgetting are not the same thing. Learn to forgive, but don’t forget. People need to win back your trust.

Here are a few other articles written by Bill….

Values

Reputation and Character

Do You Have Discernment?

Tags: Advice, Business Tips, Crisis Management, Developing Leaders, Ethics, Humility, Integrity, Knowledge, Leaders, Leadership Excellence, Leadership Problems, Leadership Skills, Learning, Life Tips, Personal Development, Philosophy, Relationships, Reputation, Responsibility, The Mind of a Leader, Values, Vision