Leadership & Character | Austin, TX

A group of Wake Foresters gathered over dinner in Austin, TX on October 19, 2018 to discuss Leadership & Character.

Overview and highlights of our Call to Conversation:

• When we think of character we see a diverse cast that lives with character each and every day. We spoke of our parents, presidents, church leaders, platoon leaders, biblical characters, yoga instructors, teachers and an “unofficial coach”
• We discussed that those with character elevate others, they step up and make others feel heard. They have the power to unify a country. We observed that leaders take initiative, not control. They are humble and genuine. Leaders assume responsibility and know it’s not the problem, it’s how you fix it. Leaders know how to lead with vulnerability, as there is strength in vulnerability.
• We discussed the idea of character being taught in a classroom. We noted the importance of action and the importance of how you make people feel. We also noted the importance of starting young, as character is deeply connected to our values.
• A point our examples alluded to was that leaders create a feeling of unity, of family within a community. We know it when we see it when it comes to character. We agreed that those with character make the best of a situation, as things do not always go the way we want them to. Leaders pause to learn from people around them and know everyone is there to teach them something, they do not put others down.