Character Formation - A Strategic Imperative

Among the many strategies that organizations embark on, leadership character formation is a strategic imperative - regardless of the environmental conditions, but especially when the surrounding environment threatens the organization's mere existence. Unfortunately, for some, character-building work is not as popular or exciting. It's time-consuming and it requires patience to invite a deeper exploration of the human person behind the role. This requires an investment over time. A key question in this regard is, "why would this investment be any different than any other business investment to strengthen the organization for the long run?"

Unless organizational leaders are committed to and consistently integrate basic character fundamentals into their leadership styles, (bringing to life integrity, a basic value system, and particularly honesty) everything that leader does will be loosely hinged. When what leaders do is loosely hinged, they risk erosion of trust. When we are no longer entrusted to sustain and advance the organization's mission for the short and long term, especially in tough economic times, we have compromised holistic leadership effectiveness. Character flaws will then describe our existence.

Mitigating this risk calls for strategies to fully invest in growing the human person as we would fully invest the human person in growing the business. In my mind, these are interdependent strategies.

Read the complete article to find out more about leadership character formation.

Read Part I of Joseph Murdock's article featured in our April newsletter.

News: Ki ThoughtBridge launches a new blog site

Join Katherine Tyler Scott, Irma Tyler-Wood and Joanna M. Murray as they talk about topics such as Keys to Leadership, The Game of Negotiation and Leading in the Gap.

Quotable Quotes

"As adults, we must achieve a complex integration that spans the contradictions between inner and outer reality, that supports both personal integrity and the common good. No, it is not easy work. But...by doing it we offer what is sacred within us to the life of the world."
 - Parker J. Palmer

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world."
 - Harriet Tubman

"Most important, leaders can conceive and articulate goals that lift people out of their petty preoccupations and unite them in pursuit of objectives worthy of their best efforts."
  - John Gardner

Article: Holding Montana In Trust

We are fostering an essential conversation about leadership across the State of Montana as our statewide leadership program enters its sixth year. As Montana looks to the future, we face a changing and challenging economy, ever more complex issues regarding the health and security of our people, and the management of our natural resources. We see an increasing need for our communities, our businesses and our government to be not only partners, but also trustholders, for a strong, growing Montana. Progress depends on developing a sustainable core of committed leaders who understand these issues, are willing to listen to and learn from each other, celebrate cultural diversity and diverse opinions, and demonstrate a passion for the Last Best Place.

The seeds of Community Trusteeship and The Inner Work of the Leader^TM were nurtured in Montana six years ago during a presentation offered by Joanna Murray of Ki ThoughtBridge at a statewide economic development summit in Billings. Until then our economic development summits were great in getting people together, however, we lacked leadership in moving forward the concepts offered through the summit.

Read the complete article to find out more about the developing civic trusteeship in Montana.

News: Coming Next Month: The Integrated Work of Leadership^© Workbook

A New Resource for Leaders Like You
 
"What ever you call it, authentic leadership is really what you are writing about Katherine."

This was the response of Bill Schilling, Executive Director of Leadership Wyoming and President of the Wyoming Heritage Foundation after reading the newly revised Integrated Work of Leadership^© Workbook. The new version explains the multi-faceted nature of leadership through a model that combines adaptive and technical skills with inner and outer work.  It invites the practice of ten Habits and Practices of The Integrated Work of Leadership^© and offers the user a wealth of activities that will increase individual authenticity and trustworthiness. The Integrated Work of Leadership^©  Workbook will become a treasured resource that you can return to with ever deepening insight and understanding of your own leadership.

Reserve your copy and another for a special colleague or friend.

Whatever we call it it's for leaders like you!

Suggested Readings:

Secretan, Lance, Inspire! What Great Leaders Do, John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey 2004

Murray, Joanna M., Leading Change with Emotional Intelligence, eBridge, May 2007

Tyler Scott, Katherine, Character: The Care of Authentic Leadership, eBridge, November 2007

Here's What You Will Find in the August Issue of eBridge:

Our next issue will focus on our depth approach to leadership formation through a preview of our new Integrated Work of Leadership^© Workbook in which Ki ThoughtBridge partner, Katherine Tyler Scott writes:  "The personhood of the leader - the authenticity and integrity of the leader - is so important as we seek to make systemic changes and equip individuals for effective leadership. The capacity to see the individual within an organization within a community helps practitioners of leadership and leadership education be ever aware of the fluid contextual environment in which they are operating, of the need for ongoing interpretation of the internal and the external reality, and of the need for consistent dynamic internal and external adaptation."  Join us for stories on the impact of inner workand the importance of adaptive leadership skill development.