A person’s character underlies every decision, every comment, every action a person takes. And nowhere has character been more lacking than in the events that led up to, and the current dealing with, the mortgage debacle and financial crisis that we are now facing in the United States. I’m not about to get on a soap box regarding this matter, enough pundits are doing that ~ I’m more interested in what we can take away and apply to our conduct in life and business.

So what is character? It’s defined by the dictionary as the combination of qualities or features that distinguish one person, group or thing from another; the combined moral or ethical structure of a person or group; moral or ethical strength, integrity, reputation. So our character both defines us and sets us apart.

Our character is based on our belief system ~ and our beliefs are based on truths we have come to acknowledge and accept. The key question is, “Are your beliefs based on a solid foundation or does your ‘truth’ fluctuate with the situation?” The latter used to be called situational ethics, meaning decisions were based on the shifting sands of whatever was deemed to be truth at that moment ~ or should I say what your perception of the truth was. Perception can be faulty.

Faulty or ever-shifting perspective means fluctuating or inconsistent ethics which translate into inconsistent behavior. I call this lack of character.

A person of character is someone whose belief system is rock solid, and who displays a set of characteristics that take others into account and are not based on purely self-centered motives. A person of character is someone who can be counted on to act a certain way.

Can your customers, business associates and strategic networking partners count on the consistency of your character? Are you consistent? congruent? trustworthy? rock solid? or do you shift based on the business discussion-of-the-moment or how desperately you want the deal?

In my October newsletter which posts on October 6th, I will write about creating a personal board of directors to help you walk the walk, talk the talk and more.