Leadership & Character | Kennilworth, IL

A group of Wake Foresters gathered over dinner in Kennilworth, IL on March 22, 2019 to discuss Leadership & Character.

Overview and highlights of our Call to Conversation:

• We heard wonderful examples of good people who showed strong character in meaningful ways. We learned of those able to influence others by being authentic and caring. So many of the stories revealed courage, humility, vulnerability and unselfishness. We need to hold up people like this and acknowledge their “doing the right thing.”
• We wondered if character can be taught. The consensus was “yes,” but it probably requires a different sort of teaching. One needs to see it in action as opposed to on a chalkboard. Life experiences are not easy to teach.
• We discussed how character is something we recognize when we see it, but it seems hard to actually define. It may be best defined by one’s cumulative actions, yet we did acknowledge that we often see character in action during times of stress and challenge.
• Character and leadership were in evidence by individuals who simply cared and took action on behalf of others. It is important for us to be aware of our neighbors and “assume positive intent” be they next door or somewhere far away.