Which is most Important: Strategy, Culture or Character?

So, which is it?  Which is most important:  Strategy, Culture, or Character?

Recently, a friend and I discussed the importance of character and how it impacted the business environment and culture.  

He asked me, "How and why would I add character to business?"

How would you answer that question?  

I gave my friend an immediate answer, but as I thought a lot more about the answer to that question after the call, it became increasingly clear that there had to be more to the answer than a simple one-liner.

So, to really answer the question, here are a few of my thoughts:

• 
  In my book, The Tricycle Effect (website), the balanced Competence Skills Wheels (in the back of the Trike) Lead to Success:  Adding Value to Self.  Most businesses focus on Profits over People. 

• In The Tricycle Effect (Doodly Video on YouTube), the Character Skills Wheel (in the front of the Trike) leads to Significance: Adding Value to Others.  Most businesses should be focused on adding value to their People and then Profits will come. 

• Throughout history, every story ever told includes at least one ethical character theme and Characters that act out a particular character skill:  Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, Loyalty, etc. 

• Turns out that character and acting with good character are quantifiable in the business world and can be measured.  In other words, there is a Return on Character….and statistics show a direct correlation between C-Level execs and their ability to lead (influence) their teams/companies to success with positive cash flow and healthy culture, including longevity, by leading with character.  Simply said, leaders who focus on leading and building relationships with Character in their companies make more money and have fewer costs/expenses to run and operate the company (i.e.-turnover, etc.). BUT…very few companies know this or live this, and even fewer think about character as a skill they need to grow personally and professionally.  

• Even great leaders believe that Character is the most important skill.  Leaders such as:  

• Military Leader - General Schwartzkopf said,  "Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy."

• Business Leader - Warren Buffet said, “Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you. You think about it; it’s true. If you hire somebody without [integrity], you really want them to be dumb and lazy.”
• Spiritual Leader - Billy Graham said, "Integrity is the glue that holds our way of life together. We must constantly strive to keep our integrity intact. When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.’"

• "There is Power in Character!  Christ was the greatest example.  It was Christ’s Character that was powerful… the Character of Christ!  Leading with Character First is transformative!  Most people don't know why Christ sat down at the right hand of God the Father.  That answer alone defines true transformation.  Hint:  The answer is the same reason a Father puts his bride/daughter on his right side as they walk down the aisle to the altar as he gives her away to the groom to be married.

• Many C-Level Executives hire Business Coaches, Life Coaches, Health Coaches, Executive Coaches, Golf & Sport Coaches, Yoga Coaches, Pickle Ball Coaches, and just about every other kind of coach, but very few if any have a CHARACTER COACH!  How about you?  Ready for your very own Character Coach?

I could add many more concepts to this list, but those seven concepts seemed to bring out the CLEAR importance of "leading with character first in life," even within a business environment.

Hope you are "leading with character first in life and business!"

Trike On!

Dane

Character Coach - Chat with Coach Dane Today!

(P.S.-Want to know more about growing your Character, The Tricycle Effect, and developing the Culture of Character Skills in your business?  Reach out to me, and let's start growing the Character Skills for you and your Business today!)