Character Counts

“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

I grew up in a family and faith community that emphasized character over reputation. You could trust family and friends to do the right thing and tell the truth. It wasn’t always a perfect model but it laid a foundation for my approach to life and business. Today I work hard to match my actions with my beliefs—to be authentic and consistent in my work and life. I confess that I don’t always get it right so I’m hoping my family, friends, and clients will forgive me for that. But I do take seriously the role that character plays in being an effective leader.

Perhaps that is why it is so troubling to observe how many business and political leaders seem to dismiss the need to be a person of character. It’s hard to find leaders who will tell people the truth or make difficult decisions; who admit their mistakes or exhibit courage under fire. When it happens we all notice because it seems so rare. After the Amish community in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania forgave the shooter who killed and maimed their daughters a few years ago the story made international headlines. The character of these families and church leaders caught our attention and served as a powerful example of forgiveness.

Ego may be one reason we are so willing to protect our reputation, in other words how we wish others would see us. We fudge the truth or lie out of habit to keep this false image intact. It takes lots of energy to live a lie. Wouldn’t it be easier to focus on being people of character so our word can be trusted the first time? How could political and business opponents effectively challenge us if the content of our character was known by everyone? Their lies and motives would become apparent.

The current political climate in Washington is exacerbated by the fact that many voters simply don’t trust our leaders. This situation didn’t happen by accident. Politicians on both sides of the aisle have over promised and under delivered for many years. Perhaps that is one reason tea party candidates are attracting attention because voters see them as persons of character—not perfect, but people with real lives and problems who aren’t trying to hide them.

It seems like now would be a great time for leaders in all of our institutions to make a commitment to become people of character—less concerned with protecting a reputation (what others think you are) and more concerned with who you really are. In this time of uncertainty we need more trees and less shadows.