Leadership?-?Beyond Talent: Why Character Matters by Dr. Myles?Munroe

Why is character more important than talent or charisma in leadership? Understand why principles, integrity, and self-discipline are crucial for long-term leadership success. Learn how to unify your words, deeds, and actions coherently and appreciate the significance of character over charisma.

Dr. Myles Munroe provides a straightforward yet impactful analogy: why do we refer to the alphabet, numbers, and statues as characters? Just as ‘A’ is always ‘A’ and ‘1’ is always ‘1’. It’s because they remain constant, regardless of time or place. A person of character does not waver. People with character adhere to their values and standards without compromise, attracting loyalty and trust. This steadfast and unchanging nature forms the basis of character and strengthens principles. Principles are like laws; they never change, and that’s why they form the bedrock of trust in leadership. One key to success, especially for leaders, is to live by principles. Unlike trends or popularity, principles are unwavering. For example, gravity is a principle — you can ignore or dislike it, but you cannot disagree. Similarly, character is about living by principles rather than what is popular. This is why politicians often struggle with character; politics is driven by popularity, which can lead to compromising principles.

Character is defined as a commitment to a set of values without compromise. Values are simply the things you hold dear. The character also involves a dedication to a set of standards without wavering. Your standards, such as not lying or stealing, define your character. Moreover, character involves self-imposed discipline for the sake of moral convictions. A person of character doesn’t need external enforcement; they police themselves. They confine themselves within the prison of their convictions and discard the key. Do your words, deeds, and actions align? This integration is the essence of character. It means you are not a different person in different circumstances; you are one consistent individual. Character integrates your words, deeds, and actions into one cohesive whole, living by unchanging principles.

Dr. Myles Munroe explains the concept of integrity as being true to oneself and consistently showing the same character regardless of the circumstances. This is closely related to the Hebrew concept of holiness, which means being whole or complete. Trust is built on integrity, and it is what motivates people to follow you. Lead with your life. Your life is the weight of your words. There is no such thing as a private life; your private actions affect public trust. The weight of this responsibility is a testament to the importance of character in leadership.

Your gift is your leadership. Everyone is born with a gift that makes them valuable to the world. This gift attracts people to you rather than your education or charisma. However, your gift needs to be protected by your character. Power, money, and access to sex are the three things that test your character. Leaders discover and deploy their gifts, attracting followers and becoming valuable to the world. This constant need for character development is a reminder of the ongoing journey of self-improvement in leadership.

Character development is crucial in personal and professional life, especially for leaders. Self-imposed discipline and moral convictions are far more essential for long-term success than innate talent.

By Dr. Myles Munroe