THE DYNAMICS OF CHARACTER BUILDING

BY

Osaigbovo Timothy

Being a Paper Presented at the North West

Geo-Political Zone Career and Values Workshop
at Labour House, Central Business District,
Abuja, 8th – 9th December, 2010.
 What is Character?
Dictionary Definition of Character
One dictionary defines character, in the sense we are considering here, as "the
complex of mental and ethical traits marking a person." In another dictionary,
character is said to be "the stable and distinctive qualities built into an
individual's life which determine his or her response regardless of
circumstances."

Character can be defined as the inward motivation to do

“I have a dream that my what is right, regardless of the circumstances… and
four children will one day
live in a nation where regardless of the cost. It springs from the heart and is
they will not be judged by the revealed by what a person does, even when no one is
color of their skin but by the
content of their character.”
looking (or maybe especially when no one is looking!).
~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I have heard character described as who you are when
no one else is around. I will go a step further and say
"Character is not reflected by
what we say,  or even by what that character is who you are when no one else is
we intend, it is a reflection  of around… and you don’t think you’ll get caught!
what we do." – Anonymous

“The measure of a man’s Our Character Is Who We Are

character is what he would do Abraham Lincoln said, "Reputation is the shadow.
if he knew he never would
be found out.”
Character is the tree." Our character is not just what we
~ Baron Thomas Babington try to display for others to see, it is who we are even
Macauley when no one is watching. Good character is doing the
“Travel the path of integrity right thing because it is right to do what is right.
without looking back, for there
is never a wrong time to do the CHARACTER is the result of hundreds and hundreds
right thing.”Michael Moore
of choices you make that gradually turn who you are, at
“Fame is a vapour, popularity any given moment, into who you want to be. If that
an accident, riches take wings,
and only character endures.” decision-making process is not present, you will still be
~ Horace Greeley somebody. You will still be alive, but may have a
personality rather than a character.

CHARACTER is not something you were born with and can't change like your
fingerprint. In fact, because you weren't born with it, it is something that you
must take responsibility for creating. I don't believe that adversity by itself
builds character and I certainly don't think that success erodes it. Character is
built by how you respond to what happens in your life. Whether it's winning
every game or losing every game. Getting rich or dealing with hard times. You
build character out of certain qualities that you must create and diligently
nurture within yourself.

2|Page
 Everyone Has Character

Character transcends age, position, financial status, race, education, gender, and
personality. People sometimes think of character as something a person either
has or doesn't have. They say, "He has character," meaning he
has good character. We recognize the truth that everyone has "character" and we
distinguish between "good" and "bad" character.

It affects your decisions, words, attitudes, goals, relationships, and actions. It is

only through building character that you can reach your full potential. Good
character makes you a better leader, spouse, parent, employee, neighbour, and
citizen. Technology advances, information expands, and the world changes but
the essential character qualities for producing effective individuals, families,
and workplaces do not change.

Our Character Determines Our Responses

The definitions above said, character is a "complex of mental and
ethical traits" and those traits, or qualities, are "built into an individual's life." It
is those character qualities, those character traits, that determine a person's
response in any given situation.

Character Traits
What are the character qualities, or character traits, that make up a person's
character? How are they be built into a persons life? Can they be changed?
If you and I were to make a list of good "character qualities," or "character
traits," our list would probably include such words as honesty, integrity,
dependability, loyalty, enthusiasm, etc. And, of course, there are many more
that could be added.

The list of character qualities that I like to use is the list identified by the
Character Training Institute of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.The Character
Training Institute list breaks "character" down into forty-nine specific, definite,
character qualities that we can focus on in order to build character into our
lives. By breaking character down into its basic elements we are better able to
focus on building those qualities into our lives. As we do so, our overall
character is improved. Honesty is a good quality, for example, that really
consists of several more basic qualities - truthfulness, dependability, diligence,
etc. Therefore, when a person works on becoming more honest, he does so by
becoming more truthful, more dependable, more diligent, etc.

List of Character Traits

Alertness - Being aware of what is taking place around me so I can have the right responses.
Attentiveness - Showing the worth of a person or task by giving my undivided concentration.
Availability - Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I serve.

3|Page
Benevolence - Giving to others basic needs without having as my motive personal reward.
Boldness - Confidence that what I have to say or do is true, right, and just.
Cautiousness - Knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions.
Compassion - Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others.
Contentment - Realizing that true happiness does not depend on material conditions.
Creativity - Approaching a need, a task, or an idea from a new perspective.
Decisiveness - The ability to recognize key factors and finalize difficult decisions.
Deference - Limiting my freedom so I do not offend the tastes of those around me.
Dependability - Fulfilling what I consented to do, even if it means unexpected sacrifice.
Determination - Purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition.
Diligence - Investing my time and energy to complete each task assigned to me.
Discernment - Understanding the deeper reasons why things happen.
Discretion - Recognizing and avoiding words, actions, and attitudes that could bring undesirable
consequences.
Endurance - The inward strength to withstand stress and do my best.
Enthusiasm - Expressing joy in each task as I give it my best effort.
Faith - Confidence that actions rooted in good character will yield the best outcome, even when I cannot see
how.
Flexibility - Willingness to change plans or ideas according to the direction of my authorities.
Forgiveness - Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and not holding a grudge.
Generosity - Carefully managing my resources so I can freely give to those in need.
Gentleness - Showing consideration and personal concern for others.
Gratefulness - Letting others know by my words and actions how they have benefitted my life.
Honour - Respecting those in leadership because of the higher authorities they represent.
Hospitality - Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, or conversation to benefit others.
Humility - Acknowledging that achievement results from the investment of others in my life.
Initiative - Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it.
Joyfulness - Maintaining a good attitude, even when faced with unpleasant conditions.
Justice - Taking personal responsibility to uphold what is pure, right, and true.
Loyalty - Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to those I serve.
Meekness - Yielding my personal rights and expectations with a desire to serve.
Obedience - Quickly and cheerfully carrying out the direction of those who are responsible for me.
Orderliness - Arranging myself and my surroundings to achieve greater efficiency.
Patience - Accepting a difficult situation without giving a deadline to remove it.
Persuasiveness - Guiding vital truths around another's mental roadblocks.
Punctuality - Showing esteem for others by doing the right thing at the right time.
Resourcefulness - Finding practical uses for that which others would overlook or discard.
Responsibility - Knowing and doing what is expected of me.
Security - Structuring my life around that which cannot be destroyed or taken away.
Self-Control - Rejecting wrong desires and doing what is right.
Sensitivity - Perceiving the true attitudes and emotions of those around me.
Sincerity - Eagerness to do what is right with transparent motives.
Thoroughness - Knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected.
Thriftiness - Allowing myself and others to spend only what is necessary.
Tolerance - Realizing that everyone is at varying levels of character development.
Truthfulness - Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts.
Virtue - The moral excellence evident in my life as I consistently do what is right.
Wisdom - Seeing and responding to life situations from a perspective that transcends my current
circumstances.
Source: Character Training Institute of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

4|Page
How does character affect our lives?
It has been said that CHARACTER is the foundation for all true success. A
person may have money, position, or power, but unless he has "good" character
he or she is not considered to be truly successful.
Some Examples
How My Lack of Attentiveness Damaged My Relationship With My
Daughter
There is a more immediate sense, however, in which character affects our lives.
For example, Consider how the character quality of attentiveness affected my
life a while back.   My daughter, who was away at college, and I were talking
on the phone.  She had been telling me about some of the things that were going
on in her life and I had been half-way listening but really had my mind on
something else.  Then Heather asked me something and my answer made it
obvious that I had not been paying attention to what she had been saying.  I
could tell by the tone of her voice that she was hurt.  I mentally kicked myself,
but it was too late.  The damage had been done.  Heather was gracious, but I
knew she felt that I just didn't care enough to really listen to her.  My lack of
attentiveness had damaged our relationship - maybe not a lot, this time, but if
repeated over and over the cumulative effect could be devastating.

Another Example: How A Restaurant's Employees Drove Future Business

Away
Here is another situation.  My wife commented to me that she had been in a fast
food restaurant near our house and that she definitely was not positively
impressed.  She said that as she entered the restaurant she had to walk past one
of the employees who was lounging just outside the door smoking a cigarette.
When she got inside, the counter person did not greet her, did not even look at
her, and acted irritated that she had come in and interrupted her flirting with
another of the employees.  During the whole time my wife gave her order,
waited for her food, and sat down in the restaurant to eat, the employees carried
on their flirtation.  It was very unpleasant for my wife.

As she related this experience to me, I couldn't help but think that the
employees had certainly not fulfilled the wishes of the owner of the store.  I am
sure that the owner wants the employees to act responsibly, showing honour and
respect for customers and exercising discretion in their actions.  My wife
contrasted the experience at this restaurant with her experience at another one
where she was greeted enthusiastically and made to feel important.  She said
that she would much rather give her business to the restaurant where the
employees demonstrated better character.

I'm sure we have all had similar experiences.  I wonder how much business is
lost because of experiences like these.  Imagine the potential for a business

5|Page
whose employees demonstrate the character qualities of attentiveness, alertness,
creativity, diligence, discretion, enthusiasm,

Self Improvement Is Character Improvement

Building Dynamic Character

Building character is not like building a machine or a product. It is not a task

you complete in a day, a week, or a year. Building character takes a lifetime.
Changing one's character requires little more than hard work and commitment.
Just as a mountain is constantly being reshaped by weather patterns, your
character is reshaped by the choices you make and the principles by which you
choose to live. New characteristics are developed by deliberately changing your
old patterns of thought and behaviour.

By casting a new vision for your organization that clearly defines the standards
of acceptable conduct, you provide direction in the performance of duties,
establish guidelines for the exercise of discretion and furnish a blueprint for the
future.

Benjamin Franklin designed for himself a plan for building character that
certainly seems to have been successful.  He identified thirteen character
qualities that he felt needed to be better developed in his own life and devised a
method of focusing his attention on each of those qualities for one week at a
time. Thus, during a year's time Mr. Franklin would go through his entire list
four times. From Benjamin Franklin's plan we learn the value of focusing our
attention on one character quality at a time. During that time we should seek to
understand as much as possible about the character quality - what it really is,
how it has been illustrated in positive and negative ways in history, how it can
be applied to our own life situations. We should also attempt to live our lives as
if we fully possessed the character quality upon which we are focusing. We
should be aware of how the character quality (or the lack of it) is demonstrated
in the lives of those around us and evaluate the results and consequences we see
in their lives.

The Benefits of Good Character

1. Character Determines Success

To effectively serve your community, you must first be committed to serve your
family, your fellow colleagues, and your agency. Character provides a basis for
this. Investing time and energy into the development of positive character
qualities will enable you and your fellow workers to correctly respond to life
situations and establish successful relationships in both your professional and
personal lives.

6|Page
Achievement in life is always birthed from effort and discipline. The same is
true of character. Basing your focus on character and developing character in
the life of your organization will require diligence, vision, commitment and
creativity on your part. But the reward of seeing lives change, families draw
closer together, and success replace failure more than compensates for any
amount of effort. If you care about your organisation, fellow colleagues,
community, and family, you can do no less.

2. Character Improves the Workplace

Most workplace problems stem from a violation of one or more character based
principles. Generally, they can be traced to a lack of specific character qualities
such as alertness, attentiveness, self-control, kindness, forgiveness, and
truthfulness. Yet most job-related training programs are competency-based, not
character-based. So, many agency leaders are looking for a new, but proven,
approach to improving the character of their organizations.

Applying character-based principles in a strategic fashion allows you as a leader

to address the daily challenges that are character related.Organizations and
government agencies currently implementing character initiatives are
experiencing up to a 90% decrease in employee turnover, absenteeism, workers’
compensation costs and work-related injuries. Citizens are reporting improved
satisfaction, excellence of service and a renewed confidence. Officers and
employees are demonstrating increased loyalty, enthusiasm, creativity,
productivity, personal responsibility, and willingness to serve.

And, when you think about it, it makes sense. By focusing on qualities such as
attentiveness, alertness, obedience, responsibility, and respect, the incidence of
work-related injuries, theft, false reports, and sexual harassment should go
down. And they do!
If your desire is total quality management and workplace excellence, character
is the key.

3. Character Motivates Achievement

Character determines performance. When you demonstrate the character
qualities essential for success, you will be successful... period.
It’s called cause and effect. Improved efficiency, enhanced effectiveness, higher
morale and greater accomplishments will flow from internalized standards of
attitude and behaviour.
Think of achievement as the fruit… and character as the seed that produces the
fruit. If you plant a good seed, you will reap a good harvest. And if you plant a
bad seed… well, you get the picture.

7|Page
Specifically, a fully-implemented character initiative:

• Identifies the root causes of many • Evaluates performance on good

chronic problems character
• Clarifies employee expectations • Unifies team members agency-
• Reduces hiring mistakes wide
• Develops a moral compass for • Fosters accountability
behaviour • Reduces silent approval of wrong
• Reduces dependence on policy behaviour
• Limits inappropriate behaviour • Improves effectiveness
and liability • Cultivates stronger community
• Defines good behaviour relations
• Provides a common vocabulary • Reduces waste
• Instils universally desired qualities • Increases productivity
• Creates a good attitude in • Develops citizen relationships
employees • Lowers workers’ compensation
• Reduces stress on leadership costs
• Provides a basis for future • Reduces employee turnover
leadership • Promotes peaceful communities
• Influences others for good • Provides public recognition
• Builds a foundation for success in annually to
life honour every employee without
• Enhances personal and favouritism
professional • Helps officers reach their full
relationships potential

4. Character Builds Relationships

Positive character qualities enhance teamwork on the job, strengthen harmony
in the family and build trust into relationships. Negative attitudes, on the other
hand, break down relationships resulting in tensions from anger, disrespect,
disloyalty, dishonesty and lack of initiative. These adverse dispositions have a
direct impact on your effectiveness, your professionalism, your reputation and
your ability to accomplish set objectives.

5. Character Increases Health

Research has shown that there is actually a health benefit associated with good
character. Positive attitudes reflected in friendly smiles, cheerful words and
sincere praise boost the immune system, reduce stress and improve our sense of
physical, emotional and spiritual wellness. There is also the issue of being a
good steward of your body.

8|Page
6. Character Reduces Injuries
Character qualities such as Attentiveness, Obedience and Alertness make us less
prone to injure yourself or others. Many organizations have reported dramatic
decreases in on-the-job injuries after initiating a character program. This is also
reflected in striking reductions in workers’ compensation claims. Now, that’s
real money… that can be applied to other things.

What Should We Do?

Each of us can, as Benjamin Franklin did, undertake to improve our own
character. We can intentionally seek to build good character qualities into our
lives and the lives of our family members.  Like Benjamin Franklin, we can
study one character quality at a time and apply what we learn in our lives. We
can demonstrate good character on the job and in our community and encourage
others to do the same. 

We can recognize the vital importance of character to the success of our lives,
our businesses, the organizations to which we belong, and to our country and
world, and we can seek to influence the part of the world that we touch to
become involved in developing better character.

9|Page