"There can be no happiness but in a virtuous and self-approving conduct." — Benjamin Franklin
When
it comes to leadership, competencies determine what a person can do. Commitment
determines what they want to do, and character determines what they will do. Character
is foundational for effective decision-making.
Character
is not a light switch that can be turned on and off. Character is not something
that you have or don’t have. All of us
have character, but the key is the depth of development of each facet of
character that enables us to lead in a holistic way.
“Virtues"
are attitudes, dispositions, or character traits that enable us to be and to
act in ways that develop excellence or dedication to the common good. They
enable us to pursue the ideals we have adopted. Virtues are like behavioral
habits – something that is exhibited fairly consistently. It is these virtues
that define the character of an organization.
Recently
I found out that Benjamin Franklin, through extensive study of the world’s
major religions and various moral codes, came up with a list of thirteen main
virtues that he felt every person should strive to live their life by. As such, he himself attempted to always live
by this code and developed charts with which he charted his progress from day
to day, to make sure that he was constantly improving towards this end.
He
would start with one of the virtues and plot his progress on the chart until he
mastered that virtue; then moving on to the next; and so on until he mastered
them all. He ordered them specifically
as shown below, as some of them naturally lend towards others. Thus by sticking to this order, he felt it
made it easier to achieve the whole.
This
code is as follows:
Temperance:
Eat not to Dullness, drink not to elevation
Silence:
Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling Conversation
Order:
Let all your Things have their Places. Let each Part of your Business have its
Time
Resolution:
Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
Frugality:
Make no Expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste Nothing
Industry:
Lose no Time. Be always employ’d in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary
Actions
Sincerity:
Use no hurtful Deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak; speak
accordingly.
Justice:
Wrong none, by doing Injuries or omitting the Benefits that are your Duty.
Moderation:
Avoid Extremes. Forbear resenting Injuries so much as you think they deserve.
Cleanliness:
Tolerate no Uncleanness in Body, Clothes, or Habitation
Tranquility:
Be not disturbed at Trifles, or at Accidents common or unavoidable.
Chastity:
Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dullness, Weakness, or
the Injury of your own or another’s Peace or Reputation.
Humility:
Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
Benjamin
Franklin had a goal of Moral Perfection. Even though he never reached that
goal, Franklin believed the endeavor for perfection made him a happier, more
successful person. Franklin discovered that this habit was the key to success.
The
virtues outlined by Benjamin Franklin provide lessons in leadership and ethics
that all business leaders can use to transform their organization and
themselves. They
represent the fundamental qualities of outstanding leaders, and are a guideline
for success.
No comments:
Post a Comment