Sue took responsibility for completing the project on her own. Your character quality of responsibility helped us keep a good customer that we were on the verge of losing. James first made the usual statement of appreciation for what Sue did. In this one incident James could have focused on other character qualities, such as initiative, flexibility, punctuality, alertness, or loyalty. Character is at the root of all human behavior.
Behavioral psychologists teach that behavior that is rewarded is likely to be repeated.
These character qualities are key to the success of every organization. A key part of leadership is developing employees. Helen Keller exhibited unruly behavior until Anne Sullivan tapped into Helen's good character potential. Imagine the gratitude and loyalty your employees will have if you, their manager, could help them develop their untapped potential. Employees who strive to practice good character need to be recognized.