Character, Commitment and Competence – just words or a very quick and accurate way to decide who you surround yourself with.
Do you have a method or due diligence process of determining who you will let into your life, cross paths with, partner with, take on as clients, etc.?
In what I do for a living, it is critical that I developed such a system that is efficient (fast), reliable (be accurate >90% of the time) and easy to use (does not require technology, computers or cell phones) that will allow me to select only those that meet my prerequisites for inclusion.
The three traits are; character (is the person honest, can they be trusted, is their word their bond, etc.), commitment (will the person quit or do whatever it takes, are they self-motivated and live a life of discipline, results versus actions, etc.) and competence (are they considered excellent and a subject matter expert by others, does mediocrity bother them, can they be taught new skills, are they life learners, etc.). There is one other trait I deem a must have – excellent communication skills, but have determined that individuals that possess the three traits, without exception are excellent communicators!
I have been asked “Do you make exceptions to the rules, if someone is excellent in 2 areas for example and less than excellent in the 3rd area?”. The answer is NO!!!! Based on over 30 years of assessing my decisions, I could not find one instance where deviating from these rules proved to turn out well!
To illustrate how I came to choose these three traits, below are some examples of what an individual might look or act like when they possess (or do not) these traits:
Competence and Commitment without Character:
This individual is smart, subject matter expert and they will never quit or give up until they meet or beat the goals! They lack character, SO they do not feel laws or rules apply to them! They will take whatever measure they feel necessary to reach the goals! In my experience, this person cannot lead others (in particular those that possess all 3 traits) and they cannot be led or part of a high performing team.
In an organization or team environment, this individual is a cancer and a liability. No one will follow this person, no one will want to be their teammate and it is a guarantee that their indiscretions and lack of integrity/morals will result in bad things happening (i.e. lawsuits, financial losses, bankrupt or insolvency).
Character and Commitment without Competence:
This individual is honest, loyal and will never quit! They lack competence, therefor anything they touch or are responsible for will not contribute towards meeting or beating the goals set! If for some reason (usually by default, tenure or internal politics) this person is in a position of authority, no person with all three of traits will want to work for or with this person! It is interesting to note; this individual can be the same cancer and liability of the one with no character! I have been asked “what is the difference between an individual that embezzles money and one that is incompetent”? I say only their intent as the financial ramifications can easily be the same end result!
Competence and Character without Commitment:
This individual is the subject matter expert and of high character! They lack commitment, so they do not get things done that contribute towards meeting or beating the goals set! This individual, although technically sound and a good person, typically is unorganized and wants to have control (i.e. micro manager, versus a strong leader that mentors and delegates responsibilities, they want to see and know everything!). This person will tend to make excuses and place blame on their subordinates or other areas versus being accountable!
Top performing individuals that possess all three traits will not be able to work for this person. This person will be detrimental to your organization and team because they are not producing the next level of leaders you will need and want to succeed!
Summary:
I use the same method regardless of the situation (i.e. new employee, business partner, potential client, vendor, strategic teammates, etc.). It has saved me time, money, reputation and stress/chaos!
Do you have a system or set of traits you look for in an individual/organization? Do you sacrifice the rules for purposes of time or reduction in short term pain/discomfort?
Some things in life are not negotiable, for me, they are character, commitment and competence!
Authored By: David Phillips, President of Victory Strategies
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