In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew Soren spoke with Gerard Seijts and Kimberley Young Milani, professors in the Ivey Business School at Western University, Canada.
Kimberley Young Milani directs the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership. Previously, she led The Circle Women’s Centre at Brescia University College and co-founded its Institute for Women in Leadership. She contributes to practitioner articles on leadership and also speaks and conducts workshops on character and women’s leadership in Canada and the US.
Gerard Seijts is a professor at Ivey Business School and specializes in organizational behavior. He also served as the first head of the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership. Seijts is known for his books on leadership, which are published widely in top management journals, and has led executive education programs globally for various sectors.
Exploring the Significance of Character in Leadership
Seijts and Milani discuss the significance of character in leadership and its connection to meaningful work. They delve into the origins of their research on character, its dimensions, and its impact on organizational dynamics and individual fulfillment. This essay will analyze their insights and arguments, highlighting the importance of character in leadership and its implications for fostering meaningful work environments.
Character, as defined by Seijts and Milani, encompasses a set of behavioral patterns or virtues that contribute to individual and societal well-being. Drawing from Aristotle as well as Chris Peterson and Martin Seligman’s work on Character Strengths and Virtues, Seijts and Milani identify eleven dimensions of character, including accountability, courage, integrity, and justice. These dimensions form the foundation of effective leadership, influencing decision-making and organizational culture.
Character and Decision-Making
At the core of leadership lies judgment, shaped by one's character. Competencies may define what a leader can do, but character determines their actions. Leaders with strong character exhibit consistent and sound judgment, leading to performance excellence within organizations. Moreover, character influences decision-making at all levels of an organization, fostering a culture of integrity, fairness, and accountability.
Character in the Workplace
Everyone brings their unique character to the workplace, influencing organizational dynamics and culture. While competencies are often emphasized in hiring processes, character plays a crucial role in determining long-term success and organizational health. Leaders who prioritize character contribute to enlivening organizational purpose, cultivating a positive work culture, and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The relationship between character and meaningful work is profound. Character traits such as humility, compassion, and collaboration contribute to a sense of purpose and fulfillment in individuals. By fostering an environment where character is valued, leaders enable employees to find meaning in their work beyond task completion. This alignment between character and meaningful work enhances employee engagement, satisfaction, and well-being.
Returning to Peterson and Seligman and their work on the VIA Inventory of Character Strengths and Virtues, Seijts acknowledges the foundational importance of this but also emphasizes that VIA is geared towards the general population. He discusses the challenge of translating this language into actionable insights for executive audiences, underscoring the need to expand upon existing frameworks to align with the context and priorities of businesses and leaders.
Character Is Unique
Each person has their own signature character traits. As Milani points out, understanding one’s character requires a level of deliberate reflection and introspection across the entirety of one’s life. Milani also highlights the role of feedback from peers and mentors in gaining insight into one's character strengths and areas for growth.
When it comes to the workplace, fostering balanced leadership requires each individual to understand their character deep enough to create a holistic team. Seijts illustrates how character virtues complement each other, preventing the pitfalls of excessive or deficient behaviors.
The Potential of Character
Fostering balanced leadership with self-awareness can have a ripple effect throughout an organization. An individual's character can influence the experience of meaningful work for them and those around them, impacting morale and productivity.
Prioritizing character development is the only way to unleash its transformative power. Organizations should view character development as fundamental to leadership training and organizational culture. Seijts emphasizes how cultivating character virtues can lead to personal growth, enhanced well-being, and organizational success.
Final Thoughts
Seijts and Milani provide a comprehensive exploration of character in leadership, emphasizing its importance, development, and practical application in fostering meaningful work and organizational success.
By prioritizing character development and fostering a culture that values integrity, empathy, and collaboration, organizations can create environments where individuals thrive, decisions are guided by sound judgment, and meaningful work becomes a shared reality for all stakeholders.
