What does it mean to possess high character? Is character something you own, or is something you must prove through your actions and choices every day?
We all know a leader who displayed the highest integrity and character for multiple decades who then lost it, perhaps forever, one morning with a horrible choice or decision.
For a leader, having character on the inside doesn’t mean much if people can’t see it on the outside in your everyday actions and behaviors. It’s a good reminder that no one has a lock on character. We have to show up and prove ourselves every day to those we lead. To paraphrase a well-known quote about success, “Character isn’t owned. It’s leased. And rent is due every day.”
