Nearly all men can stand adversity.
If you want to really test a man´s character, give him power."

There is a lot of time, work and energies today going into leadership training and leadership development. It can be seen in every industry sector, civil service area, and commercial and not-for-profit organization. But what is it that can be taught and to what end?

Leadership training usually focuses on finite curriculum designed around observed principles of leadership. These principles often come from historical figures who have demonstrated traits worth emulating and a recognized tool-set of certain approaches, solutions and interventions. The question this raises for me is "to what end?" Leaders can be trained. Individuals can be instructed on desirable traits, tool sets and solutions, but is that what is really needed?

I believe that the cry from all three actors (key external stakeholders, organizations and employees) is for men and women of great character to step forward and lead. To me, character goes well beyond leadership training. Character is something that is refined in the fire. It is a force of presence which embodies the key elements of trust, integrity and wisdom. I once heard a survey that stated people follow an individual 10 times more then they follow a good idea. If that is true, I would add that employees long to identify and follow leaders of great character; leaders that serve; and leaders of great integrity who lead with personal sacrifice before requiring the same of their people. I suggest to those who would consider themselves learning leaders, begin today to reflect on not leadership skills, but the character that they both reflect and seek in key appointments. It is that very character of a leader which will leave a legacy.