David Marques

I often hear the encouragement that anyone can be a leader in their own right. This was something that intrigued me when I graduated college and joined the marketplace. Maybe it was because that message was never passed down to me by my parents. Instead, I recall the conversations with my dad as he shared the need for better leaders who allowed people to want to follow. I recall thinking my parents perspective was probably rooted in the fact they didn’t hold a position of management in their workplace. Their wisdom was beyond me at the time. What they were actually saying was that leaders’ power of influence requires a moral compass that protects others and instills the sense of trust that makes others want to follow. In other words, more than being leaders we need to be people of character.

This last month I was challenged in my leadership as my team worked on a major milestone. When products break or delivery dates aren’t met it can bring to question all of your abilities. These last few weeks have made me remember my first 5 years as a professional. The quick highs and an unexpected low made me dizzy as my plans of leadership had been dwarfed by difficult experiences that removed any hope of me being a true leader. To think dreams can be broken in such short periods of time… But growth often comes in the long windy road; the ups and downs of life teach you how to understand pain and disappointment in light of success. I am happy to say our team delivered but it made me care more about ‘how’ we delivered. True character is forged in those moments. Character withstands the shifting tides of success. And it’s character that unlocks true leadership.

What does it look like to lead with character?

The power of influence we each have is what makes us leaders. The character we reflect in our leadership offers moral direction to our actions and the actions of others. To influence with love and care, so others show that same type of approach to their work provides the type of impact that helps teams navigate the ups and downs together. Leading with character builds teams with character. And these are the teams that win the most because even when they are down they lift each other up.

What type of character trait do you believe is most important to a team? In the coming weeks I will be blogging about the different qualities that are most evident to successful leaders and teams. Let me know your thoughts!