What is Character Driven Leadership and Why it's Needed?

what uh some of my life experiences that I've had with you so that you have an opportunity

to uh take away whatever learnings you can. So

with that let me start. What is

characterdriven leadership and why character-driven leadership and how does it how does it benefit each

one of us?

Is it necessary?

Does it require extra talent or extra work or extra

effort to be a character-driven leader?

My answer to all of those is very simple.

Characterdriven leadership is as simple as living life.

Every one of us has been given this incredible gift from Allah that we can live life and live it according to our

own understanding, our own compulsions and our own motivations

and we have to go through this.

So we have we can then decide do we want to go through it the lack of knowledge do you want to go through it

where my knowledge base is only going to be only be what we call experience based or is there a way I can learn

by exchanging ideas with others and what is the need for this character leadership well the mere fact that we've

all grown up and we've matured. We're

exercising leadership. Whether that

leadership is within an organization, it's within a community, it's within the family,

it's even in discussions.

So, you're exciting leadership whether you like it or you don't. The only thing is this. Can I exercise that in such a

is this. Can I exercise that in such a way that it benefits me not only in the short term but mainly in the long term.

Now ladies and gentlemen, one thing is absolutely absolutely involved and that is the fact that Allah has told

all of us that we will have a taste of death.

So we realize that our life on earth is a limited life and it's like an examination

and says that really our lives on the earth what is the purpose of the universe? It

is basically to test us.

And if it is to test us, what are we going to be tested on?

You know, we can take a simple example like I want to improve my uh my fitness. I want to

improve my overall health. So, I go to the gym and I exercise.

And first of all that implies is a discipline. You have to keep going to

discipline. You have to keep going to the gym. Second of all implies

the gym. Second of all implies deciding what type of health do you want.

So that is uh is it that you want to have cardio?

Is it you want muscle uh building? What

is it that you want?

So after having defined that in our minds, we then go to the gymnasium.

Maybe there is a trainer there and we ask the trainer these are my objectives and this is how I want to improve my health

and then you have to keep applying it.

Well, character different leadership is the same really. decide that you know while I'm

really. decide that you know while I'm on the earth I want to have a happy life.

I want a life which will give me which will be within my capabilities whether that's social capability family

capability organization capability or any other form of capability and is there a way in which really I can bring about a sense of consistency in

that well there is a way of doing Now as I see all of you sitting in front of me I'm guestimate whether 50 people

or whatever if we if all of us every one of us has

formally or informally define a sort of uh success in our minds each one of us

And in that definition of success, we find that it is unique to the individual.

It's always unique because each one of us is unique.

Therefore, we define what is success in our minds and we endeavor to undertake those activities, say those things, do those things which enable us to get a

success.

in this world.

But you know there is another word and it's very important to realize that

that is what we should be aiming for.

Admission into the into paradise.

Now admission to Paris like let's take an example you want to join a club a tennis

club sin club Punjab club whichever and what the club has is a series of of qualifications

you must be this must that you must be the other and if you don't comply with that you don't become a club member

Now paradise the same. It has its list of things and if you don't comply with those how are you going to get in?

So we realize that in life in actual fact there are two definition definitions success for each

one of us. One of us, one is of course success in this world and the other is getting into paradise. That is a a an

achieve enormous achievement in itself.

And Allah informs us that paradise is eternal and life on this earth is really quite limited.

So we can tell our said our life on earth is and the examination we go through whe 20 years 30 40 50 60 70

years it doesn't matter whatever life you have you go through that test it is terminal but it's similar to you taking

examinations don't you study very hard to get a qualification and then you go through examination But the examination has a terminal

point. Thereafter, you're given a

point. Thereafter, you're given a certificate and you go out in the world hoping that that certificate, that qualification will enable you to become

successful in this world.

So every one of us seeks success.

We are all benefit benefit seeking animals.

But on top of that you must realize one thing. In order to realize those

thing. In order to realize those benefits we have to make decisions.

Somebody says I want to be a child accountant. Somebody says I want to be a

accountant. Somebody says I want to be a specialist in technology. Somebody says

I want to be a specialist in marketing.

So each one of us makes our own decisions as to how we want to uh qualify so that

we're able to improve the the opportunities we have in this world.

And then it's important because there comes a stage in life where from student we become we get married or we become

somebody's partner.

And with that partner, we then have a family.

Now your whole mindset has changed because you now have great responsibilities and you're now responsible also for the

growth of your children.

So your behavior in any way even in your little family unit, you are a leader.

male or female, you are a leader.

And therefore, you have a choice. Do I

want to be a leader with character or do I just want to be somebody who uh

who is buffeted by life all the various events that take place in one's life and then how do I

succeed obviously in success it is quite obvious that if we make uh decisions which are consistent meaning that each

decision succeeding decision reinforces the previous one. The probability of success

previous one. The probability of success is higher than if you have made decision which every decision that comes is inconsistent with the previous decision.

So we realize that success lies in decision making.

And that and that has been guaranteed to us by our creator.

So how do we make decisions which will enable us to succeed both in this world and in the hereafter?

So Allah has blessed us with that.

He's given us the Quran in which he clearly states that if you do these things, the probability of you succeeding and getting entry to paradise

is assured. And of course, if you don't

is assured. And of course, if you don't do it, then your chances of getting in paradise are that much compromised. But

that decision is still ours.

It's not his.

So we are we are here to be challenged.

And in that very challenge, we learn how to conduct ourselves.

So first of all, we got to realize we're decision making entities.

Second thing, we got to realize that they were accountable for our decisions.

And that's pretty obvious in this world.

If you decide to uh jump up a wall which is rather high, let's say 20 ft high, it'll have its consequences.

Now we therefore realize that decision making decision have consequences and it also has accountability.

So that's what Allah tal said that there will be a day of judgment and there will be there on that day accountability.

And if you see that those principles apply even in life here you're in this organization you're you're working away if you work according to the rules and

regulations then the probability of you having a long association is definitely going to be assured versus if you uh

practice doing things which are not entirely within the rules and regulations.

So decision making has really multiple outcomes.

One of according to whatever your teaching is.

The second is that does it grow you as a person? Do you become a better person?

person? Do you become a better person?

So the whole idea is to develop our character so that we are able to uh

we're able to undertake our decisions and our responsibilities and we're able to do it quote successfully

unquote.

So we realize that the fundamental foundation of all this is decision making. Now if you look at the concept

making. Now if you look at the concept of decision making, you realize that decision making is not a a an exercise in absolutism.

In other words, you don't make absolute decisions. decision always based on com

decisions. decision always based on com whatever is in front of you that you're endeavoring to decide it is in comparison to something else. Now if I

to just quickly uh explain that in the in the most uh what I would call the most uh

quantitative form it is that we talk about distance now you can say what is length of the room that I'm in somebody say 50 ft and

somebody say 40 and somebody will say 60 but if we took away the word feet then what is the

Now you converted a conversation which can be can be discussed and a conclusion rather

into one which is absolute and anybody's uh absolute estimate is as good as anybody else's

and there's no way you can come to a conclusion if you one is saying 30 the other is say

40 somebody as saying 2,000 without that comparison with the thing

called feet or yards or inches or cm miles whatever without that unit it's a

meaningless statement so we realize in life decision making is in comparison and therefore

How do we make decisions which are consistent which enable us to progress down the path that we have chosen?

And that is by what's known as your frame of reference. In other words, when I'm deciding my frame of reference in this example I gave was feet.

So I turn around and said that is 50 feet. But if yards then I change that

feet. But if yards then I change that because that would then become 52 by 36 yards and so on. So you see if

you have multiple frames of reference you will have multiple uh multiple conclusion

but if you have a consistent frame of reference you only talk in feet then naturally there'll be a greater consistency in that.

So in life what we've got to realize is our frame of reference is critical. It

is crucial to our success both in this world and in the here.

So if it's this world you most of us tend to have multiple frames of reference

but when you want to get into paradise there is only one frame of reference and that is a frame of reference which Allah tala has clearly

laid down in the Quran which our beloved prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam has shown us that th those very uh

principles can be easily followed by every one of us and that's the beauty of it. Now you

have a consistent consistent frame of reference. So everything you decide

reference. So everything you decide everything you do will be adding value adding value to what to your success and to your character.

For example, I would like to challenge all of you. When you get up in the morning tomorrow and you go into the bathroom and you see in the mirror and

you see a see a picture of yourself, ask that individual, can I trust you?

And you'll get an answer.

And the answer will come from the inside.

Say it will say yes or no.

And why will it say yes or no? Because

the the answer you get will be actually a reflection of your own behavior.

For example, I go to the mirror and I say can I trust you? Mirror come back said no. Said why not? He said because

said no. Said why not? He said because you lie.

You lied yesterday. How can I trust you?

So we realize that character building starts with oneself and character building starts with a

concept of speaking the truth.

It is only truth that will enable you to get into paradise.

It is true that enable you to be successful in this world because I we're all individual but our strength comes from

collaborating with others and others will collaborate with us that they can trust us but how can they trust us we don't speak the truth so this is what our beloved prophet

sallallahu alaihi wasallam explained to us in very simple terms always speak the truth Over

time people will say I can trust this person because he speaks the truth.

So without truth as a foundation there is no progress and therefore everything every aspect of our life has to be governed by the

principle that we will always speak the truth. Of course, there are times when

truth. Of course, there are times when somebody may ask us some uh questions which might impinge on confidentiality.

You you have the option to stay silent, but you do not have the option to misinterpret,

reveal and tell a lie for some personal gain.

That you is not an option. You have to speak the truth.

Now, the beauty in all of this As you keep speaking the truth and your character grows and people learn to to

rely on you, to trust you, automatically your capacity to be able to achieve increases

direct proportion to that.

That's why when we look at the world stage, we see different leaders and we say, well, X is going to this position or why he's going to that position. Do

we ever think of what their character is? And the

answer is yes.

Would you say that Mr. Trump has got good character?

There was a there was a little article said that in his first term he spoke 20,000 lies.

Would you trust him?

And real success comes from collaboration based on trust.

Trust cannot happen without the basis of truth.

So we see a consistency there and that is the reason why our beloved prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam was known as truthfulness and trustworthiness.

And if we make that as our base on which to go forward, we will see and experience

wonderful success. It may not be in the

wonderful success. It may not be in the short term, maybe in the medium, maybe in the long term, but you will get success.

So we realize that a we are decision-m entity.

Great gift from the creator.

We are people who can develop ourselves by always speaking the truth.

We therefore are blessed because the creator will give us insight onto how uh we can evaluate the situation in front

of us. On top of that, he protects us

of us. On top of that, he protects us because he says this person is trying to speak the truth. He's trying he or she

is trying to follow what has been written in the Quran.

So naturally the creator is going to help you.

He won't make decisions for you but he will help you. And the creator manage that through the concept of context.

He can change the context around you and therefore change your the decision you're going to make but he will not make the decision for

you.

That's a privilege he's given us.

So therefore you find that developing character is really not that difficult.

It requires consistency and it requires commitment.

So you commit yourself to always speaking the truth and therefore you will develop what's known as gravitas in your

personality in the way you conduct yourself and people develop trust in you and they start to look to you for leadership

and that's what and it develops your character because you're doing the same thing again and again the right way.

So now you understand why characterbased leadership is such a fundamental part of life.

It's not for just large jobs, your minister or your your CEO or something.

It's for you right down at your family level. It's right down to your level

level. It's right down to your level personal level.

As I said to you the example of the bathroom visit where you look at yourself in the mirror and you say can I trust you?

Obviously if you're telling lies how can you be trusted?

So it starts from there.

The letter is all resolved that we're going to do our very best to always speak the truth.

And with it will come the ram of Allah and we will succeed.

He knows when to give you success.

So we shouldn't be impatient.

We shouldn't think that this is a transactional relationship where I do something and get something.

It's not a transactional relationship.

You want that success when it's best for you. Who could know better than Allah

you. Who could know better than Allah what is best for you to trust him

because he always he is the truth and by being truthful and always practicing truth you are identifying with your creator

and that is how you fundamentally expose yourself to your creator.

He sees whether you're telling the truth or not and whether you therefore identifying with him or not.

And if you don't identify the creator, you have no chance of success.

None of us for sure you will not succeed.

But therefore, catch the very simple way to go forward.

Always speak the truth. Even if you get hurt, speak the truth.

And that's especially more important between husband and wives because that speaking the truth is what you communicate to your children.

So this is the basic premise of character driven leadership.

We prioritize identification and compliance, obedience

and belief and accountability.

All in one because we trusted Allah and Allah says you to have that trust we

got to speak the truth.

So that's what we should practice and that will lead to development of character our personality

our reputation everything we do will be influenced by that.

So ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to say that character building is not easy,

but it's not difficult also because all you have to do is take very small steps every single day, every single hour

to make it simple.

Start with speaking the truth.