The Character LENS to Lead
Barry Lewis Green
Educator, Speaker, Coach, Writer, Creator ... advancing Character Leadership and Education ... to move forward together, stronger ... engaging change.
Bruce Lee once said that "Knowledge will give you power, but character respect." Respect for oneself and from others, I might suggest. Indeed I do suggest.
And self esteem is self respect.
Respect forges a practice of Dignity and Courtesy and Honor and Grace. It carries a Strength in and of itself.
I explore and write on Character regularly. Indeed and in deed, I write on and around?Character,?Purpose?and?Unity... weekly.
Character matters, and, as Helen Keller once said... "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."
As we practice it, our Respect for ourselves and others, and from others... advances.
This is not to say that we should wish for such trial and suffering; but life comes with trials and trails and triumphs alike and they are often interwoven. Challenge is an integral part of life. It makes up the dance that is life. We can resist the challenge, deny it, avoid it... or face it, dance with it... and build from it. Character is not simply about being good nor strong. It is comprised of many faces, facets and forms... in practice... the Virtues. I work around 118 of them, not unlike gears on a manual transmission.
The Practice of Character
As we best practice Character, we determine what Virtues are called upon for a given situation. I liken them to being arrows in my quiver. Virtues are not the same as "values". Values are that which we value. Virtues exist whether we value them or not. I value all Virtues as pre-existent states of being that I can call upon and into practice by what I call the Character Lens.
The LENS of Character
The LENS is comprised of Language, Education, Nobility and Service.
First, I suggest that it is important to ever better understand the meaning of a virtue. It is important to ever be the student on its layered meaning. Confidence, for instance, is thrown around as a term widely. But, as a Virtue, what is it? The L is about acquiring an ever deeper understanding of the Language. For now, and as practice... I humbly suggest that you read and reflect and munch on the meaning of Confidence. What does it look like, in action? Dig deeper into its meaning and practice. When we better understand the meaning of a Virtue, we can better practice it.
Second, we must needs adopt a learning mindset around their practice; the manifesting of Virtues, in action. Education matters. In other words, as we walk our lives, it is important to better grasp the language of meaning... but also to see beyond the superficial and explore Character in practice. And, instead of a simple focus on behaviour and consequences, we need look at any given situation and consider what Virtues were present in practice and what were not ... and learn from their practice or lack thereof. Behaviour is temporal, Character more foundational. As I have noted many times in the past, Character is the soil from which the tree of behaviour grows. If we focus on the soil, the tree will almost take care of itself. If we focus on Character Development, we advance behaviour.
Third, as we approach Language and Education, it is vital to see ourselves and others through Nobility. With it, we see ourselves as noble, at core. We see others thusly, as well. This focuses on the "nobler motives" as Dale Carnegie spoke to so many years ago. This focuses and builds upon the good. It focuses on potential and the manifestation of same. We see the good and are ready to build upon it.
Finally, we also need see ourselves as vehicles of Service. To see ourselves as such means that we aim to to be of help.
Matt Ryan speaks to Service as foundational to leadership in his recent introductory press conference. The mindset and heartset of Service is about knowing what we best bring to the table, and bringing it. It is about seeking opportunities to be useful and helpful, with Enthusiasm... to be thoughtful and practice Initiative... to contribute.
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A Simpler Formula
As we better understand the language and adopt a readiness to learn daily, seeing ourselves and others as inherently noble, and bringing our best to the classroom, company or community, we engage and lead and live lives of contribution and meaning, building a better world one life situation at a time. As Baha'u'llah said, “The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds and through commendable and seemly conduct.” It is a simple and powerful formula for making a difference; and it is about Character. The Character Lens is about leading... at home, school, work, business and community. It is about leadership; front line, top line and everywhere in between. It is about seeing Character as the foundation of Trustworthiness... and being worthy of Trust is the kind of genuine capital needed in this world now and forward.
Goodness and the Work Ahead
As Anne Frank expressed, "Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness." Enter Character. My own study, work, and Service ... grounded in and inspired by the global work of The Virtues Project... will continue to be about building leadership and cultures that are character, purpose and unity driven.
Peace, passion, purpose and prosperity...
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LEAD. INSPIRE. EDUCATE. UNITE.
I?am an Activant too; an Educator and Entrepreneur by experience, education and?Enthusiasm... with 40 years in leadership training and development, 27 years in business college education and 20 years certified and associated with?The Virtues Project. Additionally certified for 16 years in Temperament Assessment and with a longstanding body of work around Character Leadership, I help advance?conversation, consultation and capacity around?Character,?Purpose?and?Unity...?and?the?global goals. My work in business and education is to help those building a better world at school, work, business and community; locally and globally.?Humans together, strong.... that is?my?meaning... and?the space I can stay forever. To that?just cause, I commit.
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