A mentor of mine reminded me this week of something I’d heard before, but didn’t really understand until now. He told me that one of the biggest threats to a leader is when their skills development outpaces their character development. Quite frankly, the problems we’re seeing in corporate America (H-P, Converse Technology, etc.) is very likely a result of this chasm. Think about it, no one would question the skill level of the executives at H-P. But obviously we would question their character.
So how much time does the average leader spend on character development vs. skills development? If the most recent headlines (Business Week Online) are to be believed, more time is spent on the skills side. Isn’t funny how the thing that can wreck a life or career is the thing we ignore. Some call it arrogance…I call it stupidity. We’ve all been warned about what happens when character is left in the dust (see Enron, Citigroup or Adelphia).
You have a chance to turn the ship around by giving your character some attention-major attention. Start by putting as much time into the development of your character as you would on skills. For example, if you’re taking fifteen hours of classes at your local university to get your MBA, then give your character that much. Believe me, their are churches, universities, books and more that can offer you the right material on character development. Do it now! You thank me for it later…
The world needs more leaders who are well balanced in their character and their skills.