"…I have found Dr. Bob Beaudoin to be one of the best lecturers. Our staff and our clients had nothing but praise for Dr. Bob. From his military stories to his martial arts interests, he finds ways to touch individuals’ lives. He is very professional as well as personal, that is difficult to find."

Dr. Abdulatef H. Halawani
Director, Institute for Professional Training & Development
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

---

6 LEADERS LEARN CHARACTER

If a man or woman empties his or her purse into his or her head, no one can take it away from him or her. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.

— Ben Franklin

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being.

— Goethe

Leaders Learn, Have, & Practice Character

A person’s character is made up of the basic principles of effective living. Traditionally, character would consist of: integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience, industry, modesty, simplicity, and the Golden Rule.

Leaders learn and integrate these principles into their basic character and thereby experience true success and enduring happiness. This could be referred to as a behavioral approach to character development. One has only to practice and learn these principles and consequently it becomes part of his or her character. Of course, easier said than done.

Thanks to best-selling author Daniel Goleman, we are now experiencing the Emotional Intelligence revolution. There are five emotional competencies that lead to developing character:

Self-control: Managing disruptive emotions and impulses effectively

Trustworthiness: Displaying honesty and integrity

Conscientiousness: Dependability and responsibility in fulfilling obligations

Adaptability: Flexibility in handling change and challenges

Innovation: Being open to novel ideas, approaches, and new information

Underlying these competencies are the following social skills:

Influence: Wielding effective tactics of persuasion

Communication: Sending clear and convincing messages

Conflict Management: Negotiating and resolving disagreements

Leadership: Inspiring and guiding

Change catalyst: Initiating, promoting, or managing change

Character Education Counts

This is mentioned because of the need to start young. Our individual potential is a direct derivative of our self-esteem. This process begins when we are very young and continues throughout our lifetime. Feeling good about ourselves leads us to expect more of ourselves. This growth process results in being goal oriented, establishing more aggressive goals, greater expectations, and hence more impressive achievements.

A project of the Josephson Institute of Ethics has created the Six Pillars of Character for its Character Counts program.

Throughout our education programs, starting at pre-school age through elementary and secondary school systems, into adulthood, college, continuing, and advanced education, learning, practicing, and developing character is crucial to enriching and fulfilling the human potential.

Character is Learned Early and Often

I believe that how people use their talent and release their potential derives from how they feel about themselves. It begins in childhood with how they see themselves and how others treat them. This comes particularly from their parents. We as parents or parent figures, must build the self-esteem of children. Believing in them is extremely powerful. Affirming them and giving them lots of positive feedback. You can see them blossom and project and radiate, when you show confidence in them.

We need to observe our youth as they engage in the education process, while they soak up the knowledge and wisdom around them. Are they being surrounded by negative viewing, such as violence, hostility, immorality, selfishness, greed? Or are they in an environment of compassion, forgiveness, generosity, love, friendship, brotherhood?

Children learn practically all their character education before 10 years old. The rest of character development comes during their teens and the remaining adult years of their life and with minor refinements and polishing going on during those experiences. The major impact of character arrives through the many subtle and profound moments during the impressionable years 3 to 10 years of age.

In essence they learn by example. We pray that the frequent examples around them are positive ones. They see many examples of people engaged in the pursuit of excellence. They see many examples of random acts of kindness.

Return to Top