I listened to a discussion on the importance of high-character leadership to a company’s success and learned some interesting insights.

One, companies with high-character leadership earn more and persist longer.

Two, almost all leaders claim to conduct themselves with high character—but saying you are high character and acting with high character are different things. The companies that truly have high-character leaders are those whose teammates and stakeholders affirm this in independent surveys.

In this study, researchers measured character on four metrics:

• Integrity: Do leaders keep their word, honor their promises, and act consistently over time?
• Responsibility: Are leaders accountable? Do they fulfill their duties consistently and own their mistakes?
• Forgiveness: Is there a forgiving culture? Do leaders allow for risk-taking and respond to setbacks with equanimity? Is there comfort in knowing that mistakes and failures are seen as opportunities for learning and improvement rather than reasons for condemnation?
• Compassion: Does the leader radiate caring? Are they thoughtful about the well-being of their team?

That’s quite a list, isn’t it? As I listened to the descriptions and reflected on the great leaders I’ve encountered, these traits rang true.

The leaders I admired most stood out for their integrity, competence, life perspective, and genuine concern for others.

We all lead where we stand. Consider how these descriptions of high character fit into your daily behavior. In this case, it isn’t about what you want to be that matters—it’s what you do that counts.

-Howe Q. Wallace Jr