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Character is Important if You?re a CEO

When CEOs and other executives are polled on what they feel is one of the biggest assets any CEO should possess, strength of character consistently ranks among the highest of desirable traits. Why would this be more important than knowledge about a certain product or service specialty of whatever industry a business is a part of? Quite simply because a leader who is strong of character can influence pretty much any sort of business in a variety of ways that have very little to do with what the company is actually selling.

Character is important when it comes to business because a charismatic leader can inspire the workers of a company to do a better job. Simply a change of face can make the difference between a company?s stock going up or continuing a plunge. If a person appears strong, appears honest, and doesn?t do much of anything to disabuse people of the notion that they are, indeed, honest and strong, the business will ultimately in the end benefit from this perception.

Employees and investors like to see their company in firm, sure hands. A leader who is constantly rubbing his or her hands, or who appears constantly indecisive, is not the sort of leader fit for business. It doesn?t make them bad people, but neither does it do much to improve the chances of theirs or their business?s success. For a business to appear strong, the CEO must appear strong, and confident. And in the post-Enron era, a little honesty and transparency doesn?t hurt, either.