Leaders resort to or indulge in acts of short-termism and lack of credibility without realizing that employees, customers, suppliers etc., would feel proud to be working for, buying from or associating with organizations led by people of character and credibility.
The term “content of character” became famous after Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. used it in his famous “I have a dream” speech delivered at Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC before a crowd of 250,000 people on August 28, 1963. While Dr. King used it in the context of racial discrimination in US, the term is very much applicable and relevant in the context of leadership today. In a world where a person gets judged by the money he makes or the wealth he amasses or the assets he possesses, the content of character takes a back seat even when it comes to leadership. If one analyzes the reasons for the failure of companies like Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, Parmalat etc., one can easily reach the conclusion that it is not the lack of ability, knowledge or competence, but the lack of character at leadership levels(of the companies as well as other constituents like statutory auditors) that led to their ultimate demises.
People without character usually suffer from the illusion of personal preeminence, consider others as mere instruments, materials or even audiences for the leader’s outstanding performance. They behave in intimidating or excessive manner, trying to create a “larger than life” or “legendary” or “awe-inspiring” image in the people around them. They believe that they have all the answers and hence, do not trust anyone. They hardly admit that some of their past decisions had been incorrect. They even become more committed to their earlier (wrong) decisions to affirm their correctness. They deny even legitimate rights of employees like Provident Fund contributions and other retirement benefits by exploiting the loopholes in the regulatory framework while amassing wealth on their own. |
