Publisher Description
This program includes a preface read by the authors. The former superintendent at West Point and a psychologist explain why all successful leaders rely on a foundation of strong character. Among the most successful leaders throughout history—from Abe Lincoln to Rosa Parks, Mahatma Gandhi to Susan B. Anthony, Martin Luther King, Jr. to Nelson Mandela—some were brilliant mathematicians and economists, others were creative visionaries, still others were masterful at strategic planning. Their mastery of their field wasn’t the secret to their highly effective leadership. All of their skill, grit, resilience, charisma, and courage emanated from one thing: their strength of character. Character—the moral values and habits of an individual—is in the spotlight now more than perhaps at any other point in modern history. Politicians distort facts. Corporations cheat customers and investors. Athletes are caught using illegal supplements. In addition to harming our culture at large, these failures of character have a profound and undermining impact on leadership. The authors of this book are experts on the value of character, its correlation with successful leadership, and how to build it in individuals and prospective leaders. General Robert L. Caslen, Jr. served the US Army for over 43 years and served as Superintendent at the US Military Academy at West Point. Psychologist Dr. Michael D. Matthews is a Professor of Engineering Psychology at West Point who has focused on the psychology of character for years. Together they witnessed firsthand that raw talent is not enough to stand on its own; successful leadership relies on the critical foundation of a strong character. In The Character Edge they leverage their perspectives to offer an empowering, story-driven argument—backed by the latest scientific research—that character is vital to success. They give listeners the tools to build and sustain character in themselves and their organizations by testing listeners’ strengths of the gut, head and heart and teaching how to build trust and nurture the seeds of character. A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press
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As school administrators, be it at the state, local and campus levels, we have much in common with the sacred responsibility of military leaders, especially in light of what LTG (Ret.) Caslen terms the “Bank of Public Trust.” Caslen and Matthews give compelling illustrations of how trust accounts must be cherished and nurtured overtime and modeled consistently with “deposits of competence, character and caring.” As educators and public servants there is much we can draw from the stories, the exquisite scholarship and the “right way” lessons found throughout The Character Edge.
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Mary M. Keller, Ed.D., President and CEO (Retired), The Military Child Education Coalition
