In my book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders, I make the assertion after studying over 180 of the greatest leaders and organizations in the world, that you do not need high-character to get to the top of your profession, but you need high-character to stay there.
This article by the Harvard Business Review provides additional data supporting my hypothesis.
KRW International, a Minneapolis-based leadership consultancy led by its cofounder Fred Kiel, conducted a study measuring the impact of CEOs with high-character vs. those with low-character. First, let’s define what qualifies as high-character. Four moral principles were identified in such a leader:
- Integrity
- Responsibility
- Forgiveness
- Compassion
In regard to overall corporate performance, CEOs possessing these qualities had an average return on assets of 9.35% over a two-year period. CEOs identified as having low-character only scored 1.93%. Therefore, high-character CEOs had a stunning 5 TIMES the ROA of low-character leaders.
Regarding the employees themselves, those surveyed said low-character CEOs told the truth “slightly more than half the time.” As you would expect, these leaders could not be trusted to keep promises, often blamed others for their mistakes, frequently punished well-intentioned people, and were especially bad at empathy and caring for people.
Kiel said, “I was unprepared to discover how robust the connection really is.” He also pointed out the survey revealed high-character CEOs received higher employee ratings for vision and strategy, focus, accountability, and executive team character.
Sadly, low-character leaders appeared to have alarmingly low self-awareness. They seemed to be the last ones to know of their deficiencies. When low-character leaders rated themselves, it was usually much higher than their employees rated them.
Conversely, when high-character leaders rated themselves, it was usually much lower than their employees rated them. What we learn from these self-evaluations is high-character is intricately tied to humility. The best CEOs did not realize the positive impact they were making on their teams.
KRW International’s study also confirms high-character can be cultivated. It can be developed through humility, intentionality, and having a system for personal growth in this area.
In conclusion, when you develop high-character, the data shows that not only will you personally benefit, but your team and company will perform at an exceedingly higher level as well.
My book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders is available for purchase. If you have ever wanted to become the leader God created you to be, this book is for you! By combining leadership lessons from biblical heroes like Jesus, Daniel and Joseph, along with modern day leaders like Bill Gates, Nick Saban, Kobe Bryant and multiple pastors, Timeless will equip and inspire you. This book is not to be read alone. Discussion questions are included in each chapter allowing you to develop those in your circle of influence. Click HERE or on the image provided and order your copies TODAY.
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