Does your team define you as a leader with an outstanding character? Are you known (in a positive light) for how you handle conflicts, challenges and dilemmas that arise? Do you lead in a manner that is driven by a strong character?
In the construction industry, there are countless ethical situations leaders are placed in daily—whether on the production floor, a jobsite or a boardroom. Consider some of the challenges leaders face every day in these contexts, including dealing with power, privilege, information, consistency, loyalty, responsibility, motivation and decisions. There are so many variables and factors that influence construction work. It is essential that leaders enhance the one variable they have control over: themselves. A fundamental way to strengthen one’s leadership is by establishing a strong character based on values and ethics.
Significant Character Components
The field of positive psychology clings to the importance of virtues and values that are personified through character traits. The main classifications from this perspective include wisdom and knowledge, courage, interpersonal strengths, justice, temperance and meaning and connections. Leaders who seek a grounded character in their teams must enhance these components in themselves.
In the book, “Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership,” Johnson offers several applicable ways to practice each of these components. Here are a few essential practices for leaders in the construction industry.
- To practice wisdom and knowledge, embrace collaboration and ask questions of the team to learn.
- To practice courage, reflect on situations that lacked courage and outline key learnings from those situations.
- To practice justice, prioritize fairness and reflect on the impact of decisions.
- To practice temperance, identify hot buttons and note ways to handle future situations.
Essential Character Activities
With these significant components of character in mind, leaders can further establish their character with an organization by dedicating time and energy in these critical character building activities. Johnson offers the following activities that can undoubtedly be applied to leaders in this industry.
- Identify a role model within the industry. Think of someone respected and who has a firm ethical character to learn from in the future.
- Listen to stories of colleagues in the industry and share stories with them as well. Strengthen relationships to practice critical thinking, grow in understanding of possibilities and seek to recognize differing perspectives.
- Learn from the difficulties an organization faces. Do not merely suffer through the situation, but actively try to glean insights that can be applied in the future.
- Identify personal values. As leaders face different challenges and dilemmas being aware and grounded in one’s personal values heavily influences how the situations are handled.
As leaders seek to establish their character in organizations, it is essential to understand this is not a passive process. Leaders can proactively establish and build a character that is founded on values by keeping these character components and activities in mind.
