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| ("Character matters; leadership descends from character" by Aaron Gustafson is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.) |
Only a leader with strong character and a strong sense of security can feel so certain of the blamelessness of his heart that he invites the scrutiny of his peers. C. S. Lewis calls this quality, "Leaders with chests." Lewis likened the properly ordered soul to the human body: the head (reason) must rule the belly (the sensual appetites) through the chest (character and spirit). The chest is the indispensable liaison between reason and the appetites. Without a strong "chest," men would succumb to excuses, relativism, and compromise. Lewis called those with no character or integrity, "men without chests."
[Excerpt from The Maxwell Leadership Bible quoting Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis]"Character is the foundation of command presence. All people reveal their character in every interaction, and character shapes and permeates a leader’s command presence." (Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, p. 20)
Setting the Example
Fire leaders set the example by exhibiting strong character, by showing optimism and encouraging others, even when facing setbacks. 
Character is based on values. It is the combination of actions and words that others appraise to determine if we can be trusted to do the right thing. Character is the most valuable asset we have as leaders because it, more than anything else, promotes or hinders the development of trust.
Because other’s perception of character results from the observation of many actions, it is impossible for anyone to hide their character. We cannot fool others: they assess our character every day; they know if we are open and honest; they see if we are indecisive, lazy, or selfish.
- Fire leaders are mindful of our values and the way that we communicate and reinforce them to others and to ourselves. We set the example by taking steps to build our character continually:
- Knowing our values, reviewing them frequently, and contemplating areas for improvement.
- Admitting when we are wrong.
- Taking time to reflect on our actions.
- Finding role models and asking them to be our mentors.
- Studying leaders and leadership, learning from their successes and mistakes.
Wildland Fire Leadership Challenge - Digging a Little Deeper
- Click here to download a copy of Leading in the Wildland Fire Service.
- Search our blog for more information on the topic.
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