Does character really work?

Character works… when it’s not ignored
Like the famous frog slowly boiling to death in the kettle, over the last 50 years our society has slowly fallen into a deep sleep in relation to character.
> We’ve been convinced it is more important to look good than be good.
> We have educated our young as never before but failed to teach them how to live with each other. 50% of marriages end in divorce.
> We earn more but have little cash, poor savings and large debt.
> We pay our politicians more and respect them less.
> We honour our sports stars more – but don’t trust them because we have to test them for drug abuse.
> This last generation was the one that was going to change the world for the better, but we have polluted it more, taken more out of it and put less back.
> Teachers and parents argue as to whose responsibility it is to direct the morals and values of our children. Neither group seems to know how.

Character Works … when you give it a chance.
Nearly every difficulty faced by organizations and families has a character failing at its core.

All discipline problems stem from a character issue. Most injury claims stem from a character failing; usually carelessness or inattentiveness on someone’s part. Sackings stem from a character failing and resignations are often the result of a character failure too.

When an organization of any size or make-up pays attention to character it experiences an increase in morale, enthusiasm, responsibility and initiative.

Common problems such as accidents, absenteeism, disharmony and inattention melt away. Why is that? The answer is almost too simple to accept but it is true.

People experience an awakening of conscience and actually enjoy behaving to a higher standardized level when you simply create character awareness.

Character works … when you give your people your commitment
Don’t take on character training because it is the latest fad or because you hear that someone else has had great results from their character initiative.

You only take on a character development program when your Chief Executive and the other most senior executives agree to be totally committed to developing their own character and to being held accountable for their stand.

Training at all levels of your organization then produces results.

Character works in HR because you hire better, and have a basis for discipline and reward.
Character works in sales because salespeople develop more alertness to customer needs.
Character works in management where team members are acknowledged for what is important in life.
Character works in customer service with an increased desire to serve and value relationships.

© 2004 Colin Pearce