People are usually hired for what they know but fired for who they are.

Note: Toolbox Tips are perfect for developing your front line workforce. A Toolbox Tip can be covered in 1-2 minutes and is easily understood by all.

Toolbox Tip #15

Character counts. Who we are on the inside determines what others see, feel, and experience on the outside.

Why It Matters:

When it comes to character, it’s not about what we know. It’s about who we are. People are most often hired for what they know, but they are most often fired for who they are. Our character will either launch us or limit us. Character is personal, but it’s not private.

What We Do:

We intentionally make choices that reveal a high degree of character. We make and keep commitments. We do what we said we would do, when we said we would do it, how we said we would do it, because we said we would do it. We ensure our motive, agenda, and behavior are aligned with positive, character-based principles. We say and do things that build trust.

What We Don’t Do:

We don’t lie. We don’t make and break commitments. We don’t talk about others behind their backs. We don’t fail to stand for what’s right. We don’t hang around negative people. We don’t do or say things that create distrust.

Bad Example(s):

Blaming others for our behavior when things don’t go our way. Speaking to others in anger. Pretending to know when we don’t know. Allowing our pride and ego to prevent us from doing the right thing.

Think About This:

“Our reputations do not come from how we talk about ourselves. Our reputations come from how others talk about us.” ~ Simon Sinek

Ask Yourself:

Do I ever blame others for my behavior? Do others control me, or do I control me? Who is responsible for my behavior? What does my behavior communicate to others?

What Do You Think?

When you reflect on your career, have you noticed that people are hired for what they know and can do...their resume, their skills, their knowledge, their abilities? But, have you also noticed that people are fired for who they are and how they interact with others?

Leave a comment. Have you seem more people fired because of a lack of character or a lack of competency?

Blue-Collar Leadership? Toolbox Tips ?is filled with 60 micro-lessons intended to provoke thought, raise awareness, and?increase your influence .

These micro-lessons can be studied alone or introduced in a team or group setting to initiate growth and facilitate discussion. Each micro-lesson can be read in 1-2 minutes. However, additional group discussion is encouraged.

Each micro-lesson begins with a principle that, if applied, will help you increase your influence. Life is always better with more influence, not less.

As you read each micro-lesson, look for ways to validate and reinforce what you’re learning. Do this by reflecting on times when you or others got it right and gained influence or times when you or others got it wrong and lost influence.

Section 1 (Tips 1-30) is based on Mack’s book,?Blue-Collar Leadership?: Leading from the Front Lines , which is focused on helping you become a high impact individual.

Section 2 (Tips 31-60) is based on Mack’s book,?Blue-Collar Leadership? & Teamwork: 30 Traits of High Impact Players ,?which is focused on helping you become a high impact team player.

High impact people are always more valuable, more effective, and more influential.

High performance teams are filled with high impact people.

Make an impact.

Learn more about Mack Story and how he develops the blue-collar workforce, those who lead them, and those who support them?here .