7 Reasons Why Character Trumps Strategy

Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy: Norman Schwarzkopf.

In any sphere of life, leadership is as essential as it is fragile. Essential because without good leadership people do not produce their best; fragile because the best leader can lose their mantle of leadership quickly if they fail to understand and follow some simple, yet profound principles.

The marriage of character and strategy is critical in the delivery of leadership in any situation, yet the role of character in this union is often misunderstood or under-emphasized.

Here are seven reasons why.

1. People won't follow leaders who lack character - When leaders at any level demonstrate poor intentions, decisions or worst of all, values, it comes as no surprise that their teams develop an instinctive reluctance to follow them. Like walking out onto thin ice, people treat such lack of character with great caution and usually pull back; emotionally and psychologically if not practically. Alternatively, the leader prepared and willing to precede their teams actions by first walking out onto the ice will inevitably gain respect, and a willingness from their team to follow.


2. People don't trust leaders who lack character - However a leader may view their followers responses, the reality is that people watch their leader closely; they carefully canvas and review the leaders track record on matters of performance, judgment and most of all character. People learn instinctively and quickly whether to trust their superiors; and the adage that trust takes a lifetime to gain but moments to lose is relevant here. When a leader sees fit to behave without integrity, their followers immediately lose trust in them; if a leader is dishonest or demonstrates a lack of truthfulness with a client, why should I trust them, are they being honest with me?


3. People won't respect leaders who lack character - If the greatest attribute of a leader is to command respect, not demand it, then one of the greatest privileges of a follower is to respect them and hold them up as role model. Leaders who lack character inevitably find that their followers won't respect them, nor seek to emulate them or use them as a role model; their followers won't take pride in the fact of serving or even being associated with the leader in question. A leader who lives a life of integrity earns the right to be respected, imitated and their followers loyalty is among their greatest assets.


4. People don't feel safe with leaders who lack character - Leaders who lack character never achieve a dynamic where their team feels completely safe around them; safe with their judgment, decisions and concern for the team. When followers are unsure about their leaders character or ethos, they can never be quite sure how their leader will act, or respond; never be fully confident in them; never be willing to be fully transparent with them and never, ever willing to expose their flaws to them; for they will always sense insecurity and possibly feel threatened, and even intimidated. Leaders whose character is proven find that their teams feel safe around them and will subsequently demonstrate absolute confidence in their leadership.


5. People won't give their best to leaders who lack character - When followers are confronted by a leader whose character is in question they inevitably won't give their best; the whole team or organizations potential is compromised. In this paradigm people feel demoralized and discouraged; why bother, there's no point, I'm not appreciated are common responses. Yet when a leader shows his or her character, their colours to the team whether in good times, or even better, in bad times, the team naturally determines to give it all, to do whatever it takes (ethically) to achieve the goals of the organization.


6. People don't see a future for leaders who lack character - When leaders fail to demonstrate character their team cannot see a positive way forward. They can't visualize a healthy future for the leader and so distrust and uncertainty creep in. Once this happens it is like the analogy of the stick of chalk dipped in ink; the irreparable damage is done; usually cannot be undone and the future is sealed for the leader. Followers will often die for a cause or a leader but once the leader reveals poor character the bond of trust is destroyed and is unlikely to be restored; such is the utter imperative for a leader to be vigilant regarding their character. People who lose faith in a leaders character will always struggle to have faith in the leaders cause; the constant thought will be we are always only one step, one bad decision away from failure or disaster.


7. People won't risk their future with leaders who lack character - Ultimately, the principle of what's in it for me will come into play when followers consider their leaders character and integrity. For people who have invested heavily, possibly for a lifetime, into their personal career and future, the thought of allying themselves to and supporting a leader without character is usually too much to bear. Figuratively, and sometimes practically, people will give their life for a leader who gains their trust and respect, yet will not give the time of day to one who demonstrates poor character.

To optimize the performance of any team or organization character and strategy should co-exist, with each bringing its unique elements of success to the equation. Of the two, character stands pre-eminent as the single most powerful quality of a team and its leader. For without it, the crucial elements of confidence, commitment, enthusiasm and sacrifice are absent; and by default, success is also absent.

Author Neil Findlay