University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
Leading with Character
Book

Leading with Character

10 Minutes a Day to a Brilliant Legacy

Jim Loehr and Caren Kenney
Wiley, 2020
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Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Concrete Examples
  • Engaging
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

Dr. Jim Loehr, the co-founder of the Human Performance Institute, reports that overcoming contemporary societal ills depends on one crucial factor: Leaders of sound character. That means leaders who are ethical and operate according to a strict moral code. Writing with Caren Kenney, founder of Evolve Leadership, Loehr provides a valuable guide on how to build your character, starting with your daily actions. The book explains how to develop a sustaining personal creed, lead a meaningful life and establish an honorable legacy.

Summary

Legacies derive from character, ethics and morality, not position, status or wealth.

What impact have you made on the world, on your friends and family, on your community or in your business? Has your impact been positive or negative? Are you proud of it? Have you made the world a better place? When you’re gone, how will the world remember you? What will your legacy be? 

Whatever your legacy proves to be, it won’t be based on how rich, powerful, educated, famous or competent you were.

Instead, your legacy will stand on who you are as a person, your ethical and moral values, and how you treat others. The future will derive your legacy from your character, integrity, trustworthiness, honesty and kindness.  

Among these character traits, ethics and morals are foremost and deserve most of your attention. Being ethical means following the highest standards of “accepted practices and behavior” in your community, industry and society. Morality means acting according to what you believe is right or wrong.

When leaders let their moral judgment lapse – or become sullied, weakened or taken over...

About the Authors

Dr. Jim Loehr, a performance psychologist, co-founded The Human Performance Institute. He has written several books including The Only Way to Win: How Building Character Drives Higher Achievement and Greater Fulfillment in Business and Life and The New Toughness Training for Sports: Mental, Emotional, and Physical Conditioning from One of the World’s Premier Sports Psychologists. Caren Kenney, CEO and founder of Evolve Leadership, is a business leader, executive coach and consultant.

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