Building Character: Strengthening the Heart of Good Leadership (J-B CCL (Center for Creative Leadership))

Building Character is written for leaders who understand their responsibility to develop authentic leaders within their organizations. Without presenting an overarching moral code or a prescriptive code of behavior, this book offers leaders and managers a practical model complete with the tools, information, and processes to develop character in leaders at all levels. The author explains the role character plays in leadership success and effectiveness and outlines how character can be developed through the Five E's—Example, Education, Experience, Evaluation, and Environment. Building Character: Strengthening the Heart of Good Leadership 3 Contents 7 Preface 9 Acknowledgments 11 About the Author 13 Chapter 1: Character and Leadership 15 What’s Currently Missing from Leadership Development 16 To Lead Is to Influence 18 Focusing on Behaviors 20 Leadership Character Can Be Developed 22 Constructive and Affirming Behaviors 25 Values, Needs, and Behavior 27 Choices, Consequences, and Dilemmas 30 The Five E’s: A Framework for Character Development 32 Chapter 2: Five Influential Attributes 35 Courage 36 Caring 42 Optimism 45 Self-Control 49 Communication 54 Connecting Attributes 60 Chapter 3: Example 63 The Human Urge to Imitate 63 Outstanding Leaders and Their Role Models 64 Developing Character by Your Own Behavioral Example 67 Assess Yourself as an Example 72 Chapter 4: Experience 79 The Basic Value of Experience 80 Developing Good Leadership Behaviors with Challenging Job Assignments 82 Three Areas of Gain from Experiential Learning 89 Learning Leadership Behaviors from the Experience of Other Leaders 92 Developing Good Leadership Behaviors from Hardship and Adversity 98 Chapter 5: Education 103 Best Practices in Adult Education 104 Elements of a Character Education Process 109 Self-Education 120 Resistance and Incentives 122 Chapter 6: Environment 125 The Driving Force of Values 126 Your Role in Establishing and Endorsing Values 128 Environments Conducive to a Successful Character Development Initiative 130 Responding to a Toxic Culture 134 Communication and Other Positive Organizational Attributes 136 Leader Development in the Business Plan 139 Chapter 7: Evaluation 141 The Challenge of Evaluation 142 Behavioral Feedback 144 Performance Appraisals 151 Discipline 158 Other Uses of Evaluation in the Character Development Process 162 Chapter 8: Next Steps 165 Assessment 166 Planning and Coordination 170 Execution and Adjustments 174 Your Legacy as a Leader 175 Appendix A: Personal Values 177 Appendix B: Assessing Leadership Character 181 Appendix C: A Checklist of Good Leader Behaviors 183 Courage 183 Caring 186 Optimism 188 Self-Control 190 Communication 192 Appendix D: Leadership Character Scenarios 197 Appendix E: Integrated Plan for Developing Leadership Character 203 References and Suggested Readings 207 Index 216 About the Center for Creative Leadership 223 "Building Character is written for leaders who understand their responsibility to develop authentic leaders within their organizations. Without presenting an overarching moral code or a prescriptive code of behavior, this book offers leaders and managers a practical model complete with the tools, information, and processes to develop character in leaders at all levels. The author explains the role character plays in leadership success and effectiveness and outlines how character can be developed through the Five E's - Example, Education, Experience, Evaluation, and Environment."--Jacket Character And Leadership -- Five Influential Attributes -- Example -- Experience -- Education -- Environment -- Evaluation -- Next Steps -- Appendix A: Personal Values -- Appendix B: Assessing Leadership Character -- Appendix C: A Checklist Of Good Leader Behaviors -- Appendix D: Leadership Character Scenarios -- Appendix E: Integrated Plan For Developing Leadership Character. Gene Klann. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 193-201) And Index.