Does the character of our leaders matter?
You may think this question was answered long ago. Countless business
authors and analysts have assured us that great leadership demands great
character. Time and again, we've seen that truth play out, as
once-thriving organizations falter and fail under the guidance of
leaders behaving badly. Why, then, do so many executives remain
skeptical about the true value of leadership character? A winning
strategy and a sound business model are what really matter, they argue;
character is just the icing on the cake.
What's been missing from this debate is hard evidence: data that shows
not only that leadership character matters for organizational success,
but how it matters; and concrete evidence that it leads to better
business results. Now, in this groundbreaking book, respected leadership
researcher, adviser, and author Fred Kiel offers that evidence--solid
data that demonstrates the connection between character, leadership
excellence, and organizational results.
After seven years of rigorous research based on a landmark study of more
than 100 CEOs and over 8,000 of their employees' observations, Kiel's
findings show that leaders of strong character achieved up to five
times the ROA for their organizations as did leaders of weak character.
Return on Character goes on to reveal:
- How leadership character is formed, how it creates value, and how
that value spreads throughout the organization
- How low-character leaders undermine the success of even the best
business plans
- How leaders at any level can develop the habits of strong character
and "unlearn" the habits of poor character
The book also provides a character-building methodology--step-by-step
advice and techniques for assessing your own character habits and
improving your performance and that of your organization.
Return on Character provides the blueprint for building your own
leadership character and creating a character-driven organization that
achieves superior business results.
