The Ararat Connection: Busting 3 Myths About Coaching Character as a Skill

Busting 3 Myths About Coaching Character as a Skill

*By Coach Dane*

When it comes to leadership, *character* is often thought of as something you either have or you don’t. But what if I told you that character can be coached just like any other skill? This may sound surprising, but it’s true! In my book *Coach-Ability and The Tricycle Effect*, I focus on how developing strong character skills is the foundation of effective leadership. However, there are many myths that prevent people from understanding that character is not just inherent—it can be learned, developed, and refined. In this blog post, we’ll tackle three of the most common myths about coaching character as a skill.

Myth #1: "Character is something you’re born with, not something you can develop."

One of the biggest myths about character is that it’s something fixed at birth—either you have it, or you don’t. While it’s true that certain character traits might come more naturally to some than others, *character* itself is shaped by our experiences, choices, and the effort we put into growth. Just like learning a new language or mastering a musical instrument, character can be developed through intentional practice and feedback. In fact, the core message of *The Tricycle Effect* framework is that character is the front wheel that guides you and drives your success in leadership. Just like you can train to improve your communication or technical skills, you can work on becoming more trustworthy, responsible, and empathetic.

Myth #2: "Character development is too vague and hard to measure."

Some people believe that character is a "fuzzy" concept that’s too subjective to be measured or coached. But just because character isn't measured by numbers like sales or performance stats doesn’t mean it’s not measurable. In *Coach-Ability and The Tricycle Effect*, I break character down into practical skills like integrity, empathy, courage, and accountability—these are clear, definable traits that can be improved through feedback, coaching, and practice. By focusing on specific character skills and setting tangible goals, you can track progress and see real growth. For example, setting a goal to actively listen to your team’s concerns for a set number of times each week is a measurable way to practice empathy. Just like other skills, the more you practice, the better you become!

Myth #3: "Character development is just about personal growth, not professional success."

Some people think that character only affects your personal life, but it is actually one of the biggest drivers of professional success as well. Building character skills like trustworthiness, fairness, and responsibility directly impacts your ability to lead others effectively. In fact, character is often the “X-factor” that separates good leaders from great leaders. When leaders demonstrate character by making ethical decisions, taking accountability, and showing empathy, they earn trust and loyalty from their team, which leads to a positive work culture and better results. In short, character development is not just a personal endeavor—it’s a professional investment that pays off by building a stronger, more successful team.

Take Action: Build Your Character Skills

Now that we’ve busted these myths, I challenge you to take action! Remember, character isn’t something you’re stuck with—it’s something you can develop and grow, just like any other skill. Start by identifying one character skill you want to improve, and then create a plan to practice it daily. If you’re ready to take your leadership to the next level, I invite you to visit my book at Amazon to explore *Coach-Ability and The Tricycle Effect*, where I dive deeper into the steps you can take to build character as the foundation of your leadership.

Here is the Amazon book link: https://coach.lmdc.us/coachable_book