Leadership is built upon the combination of character and competency. A highly competent person that is deficient in the character traits of leadership cannot build the relationship of trust and respect to effectively lead. On the other hand, certain skills or competencies are necessary for a person of strong character to effectively develop and communicate the vision and to develop the credibility required to lead.

A recent article in the Harvard Business Review, titled “Self-Awareness Can Help Leaders More Than an MBA Can”, discussed the effectiveness of an MBA for preparing a leader with the effectiveness of self-awareness in molding a leader. This article is another argument for the necessary combination of character and competency. It makes the point that an MBA alone, or a set of competencies alone, does not prepare a person to lead. In fact, it can do the opposite when a person has low self-awareness. Without self-awareness, a person can place too much value in their skills, intelligence, or education, perhaps even becoming arrogant and unapproachable. Self-awareness provides a leader with a realistic view of who they are and how they relate. Self-awareness in itself does not make a leader but it opens the door to growth and development of the character traits necessary for effective relationships and effective leadership. Self-awareness also keeps us from thinking that we are the “cat’s pajamas.”

While the referenced article has a bit of self-promotion for the authors and their consulting practice, it is still a good read. For some further thoughts on self-awareness, see this article from a few months ago.

Are you leaning on your competencies or building your character?