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 fulfill our own potential for good 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 recreated 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 people around us and patterns of institutional life, by the stories and spaces we inhabit. Character often grows most amid difficulty.
Impact areas
Leadership in Business
Evidence suggests that strong company values boost performance, guard against ethical failures, and enhance employee well-being. We have conducted research in business contexts with a particular focus on law, business, finance, and technology. Supported by the John Templeton Foundation, and in partnership with the Forward Institute, our major research in this space was a three-year £2.6m study that focuses on character, culture, and leadership in UK businesses.
Leadership in Higher Education
Building on our cutting-edge research on leadership and character development, we offer a number of programmes that bridge theory and practice and make a lasting contribution to society. Using seven strategies for character development, our programmes help students and professionals to realise their leadership potential and become wise thinkers and good leaders.
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