What is character?
Character is the guiding core of who we are – a mosaic of personal dispositions or habits that are developed over time and shape how we perceive, think, feel, and act. Our character includes both our motivation to be a certain kind of person and how we consistently act on our values and concerns.
Why does character matter?
Positive character traits like integrity, creativity, courage, and compassion are known as virtues or "excellences' - ways of being that fulfil our own potential and contribute to the well-being of others around us.
Character is not binary (you have it or you don't), but rather built over time through repeated practice. Good character improves outcomes for individuals and organisations.
How is character developed?
Character grows through a personal journey of repeated practice, emulating role models and reflecting on past experiences. It is shaped socially by the people around us and patterns of institutional life. Character often grows most amid difficulty.
Our focus areas
Business
Good leadership is essential for businesses to perform at their best – to maintain a positive culture, make the most of opportunities for growth, return value to their stakeholders, and navigate the uncertainties and challenges they face.
Supported by the John Templeton Foundation, and in partnership with the Forward Institute, we conducted a 3-year, £2.6m study on character, culture, and leadership in UK business. We found that character is central to good leadership. 52% of the features identified by participants related to character virtues, 35% to interpersonal skills, and 13% to professional competence.
Higher Education
To bridge the gap between theory and practice, we have developed several leadership development programmes, based on our cutting-edge research, to help students become wise thinkers and good leaders. These programmes are built on the seven strategies for character development, a framework we produced to understand how character is developed and how it drives good leadership. Our flagship programme at the University of Oxford – the Global Leadership Initiative – is open to postgraduate students who demonstrate strong leadership potential.
We have also developed training programmes to support students across the world, as well as professionals, to be a better leader to build a better world. Our free, 30-day online course – Leading with Character – is open to anyone, anywhere.
Personality is how you respond on a typical day. Character is how you show up on your worst day. It's easy to demonstrate fairness, integrity, and generosity when things are going well. The real question is whether you stand by those values when the deck is stacked against you.
Prof Adam Grant
Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania