“In leadership, character counts. We maintain that leadership is character.” Bennis & Goldsmith
Let’s consider two character qualities—honesty and integrity—in the lives of two historical leaders: Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Lindemann.
In Jordan Ellenberg’s new book Shape: The Hidden Geometry of Information, Biology, Strategy, Democracy, and Everything Else, he writes, “What distinguished Lincoln as a thinker, his friend and fellow lawyer Henry Clay Whitney recalled, wasn’t his brilliance; lots of people in public life are smart, and among them one finds both the good and the bad. What made Lincoln special was integrity, his belief that you should not say something unless you have demonstrated that it is right. Whitney writes: “It was morally impossible for Lincoln to argue dishonestly; he could no more do it than he could steal; it was the same thing to him in essence, to despoil a man of his property by larceny, or by illogical or flagitious reasoning.”
Frederick Lindemann was a brilliant physicist who became one of Winston Churchill’s best friends and close confidant during World War 2. He was a ruthless debater and a good strategist, but he lacked character. One of his biographers, Frederick Smith, said of him, “He would not shrink from using an argument which he knew to be wrong if by so doing he could tie up one of his professional opponents.”
While everyone should aspire to have good character, it is non-negotiable for effective leaders. If you don’t have good character, your leadership will always be wanting. In Thomas Wren’s book, The Leader’s Companion, Insights on Leadership Through the Ages, Kirkpatrick and Locke contribute these thoughts, “Honesty and integrity are virtues in all individuals, but have special significance for leaders. Without these qualities, leadership is undermined. Integrity is the correspondence between word and deed and honesty refers to being truthful or non-deceitful. The two form the foundation of a trusting relationship between leader and followers.”
Let’s apply this lesson in two ways.
First, don’t follow a leader who has bad character. If you do you’ll need to justify his or her actions, which will weaken your own character. It will not end well for you or the organization.
Secondly, if you’re a leader, prioritize developing and maintaining stellar character. Interestingly and fortunately, character is not an innate quality; we’re not born with character any more than we are born with beliefs or values. Character is developed. So if yours is lacking—improve.
Great article.
These days honesty and good character is seldom found in leaders and role-models. Thank you Don
Mary, thanks for kind and generous words. Don
Unfortunately the advice of not following a leader with bad character or no integrity came too late in my life and it cost me dearly.
Lesson learned the hard way and not forgotten.
I have been in leadership roles several times in my life.
During that time I learned this: If you always tell the truth you will never have to remember what you said.
Ed, thanks for responding. I’m saddened to know of the hurtful situation you had in your career. You are a good man. Thanks for serving at church. You are a blessing to many. Don
Don,
This is right on for today. Thank you Abraham Lincoln. Loved that he was described as not being the smartest person in the room, but had great character. This quality truly set him apart to become one of our greatest presidents.
My own thought about character is that everyone knows who has it and who doesn’t. If I look up and down the street where I live, I know who has character, and who just does not value it. Our society is very lacking in role models for character today. One thing I have noticed in my own extended family is that sometimes the older some of my relatives become, the more willing they are to compromise their own character and they call it “compassion”. Abraham Lincoln was full of character and compassion as well, but was able to keep the lines between them.
Garry, thanks for taking the time to respond. Your comments are spot on. I like your contrast between character and compassion. It’s possible to have both.