Authority or Majority?

I'm posting old Members' Library Home Page articles here to serve as an archive. This one was first published April 17, 2009, at http://members.characterfirst.com.

Luke Kallberg

A major criticism of character training programs has been that they are authoritarian in their presentation of desired behaviors¹. I remember when Character First! was originally adapted for public schools–the quality of Obedience was the most controversial, and this has not changed.

The alternative to an authority–based program (“this is what the experts think”) is a majority–based program (“this is what most people agree on”). All justifications for character or ethics training can be seen as forms or combinations of these two thoughts.

Majority­– (or “democratically–“) based ethics programs are gaining popularity due to the realization that people, in practice, pick up their personal ethical codes in an organic, relational way, not simply from an instructor or a book². We don’t hear in a class that truthfulness is good, then flip an internal switch to never lie again. Real life is more complicated than that, and relationships are a big part of that complexity.

But is this really an argument against moral instruction? No, it’s simply a long-winded rephrasing of the old truism: walk your talk. The Character First! “program” does not simply entail reading a bulletin or web page. Resources like the Members’ Library facilitate connection and relationship between people as they figure out what these principles mean on a daily basis.

• Do one of the activities from the kids section with your children.
• Hold an office brainstorming exercise on how to integrate the key concepts­­­–or what may be some different key concepts for your organization.
• Award a prize each month to whoever can present the story of some other “hero” who demonstrates the current quality.

References

¹Cooley, A (2008). Legislating character: Moral education in North Carolina’s schools. Educational Studies, 43, p.188-205.

²Jones, C. (2005). Character, virtues, and physical education. European Physical Education Review, 11(2) p.139-151.

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Luke Kallberg manages website content for the Character Training Institute.

Vocabulary of Character

I'm posting old Members' Library Home Page articles here to serve as an archive. This one was first published April 3, 2009, at http://members.characterfirst.com.

Luke Kallberg

I recently talked with a man who has experience running an orphanage in a particular African nation. He surprised me with the comment that certain concepts of what we would call ethical behavior appear to be completely absent from that culture. Theft, disrepair, and lying were common, accepted practices–but that wasn’t the most striking part. Surprisingly, people do harbor distrust and contempt for those they see as liars and thieves, but there is no connection to the idea that their behavior was undesirable. Even though recognized as harmful and untrustworthy, the behavior was not seen as good or bad, but simply reality. The concept of integrity as a good goal is simply not there.

We all live like this to some extent. When we don’t have a readily available concept to define a certain behavior to ourselves, there’s not much chance that we will behave that way. We are purposeful beings, and when our purpose is unclear, we will pick a new one of our own and go that direction.

If character training were boiled down to telling people, “be good,” we would soon see everyone reverting to their own personal motivations and concepts of what counts as “being good.” Character First! tries to provide some articulate concepts – some vocabulary – that people and organizations can use to think and talk clearly about what they mean when they say “be good.” As we become more familiar with these concepts, we will have more durable purposes for ethical behavior.

• Many of the Character Qualities have a definition that reveals a motivation or deeper reason for it. Can you recognize how these apply to your life?
• A major purpose of Character Recognitions is to introduce the vocabulary of character into daily life so that these concepts can become more solid.
• What are the buzzwords in your family or organization? These words and concepts probably control people’s motivations more that you realize.

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Luke Kallberg manages website content for the Character Training Institute.

Part 4 - Community Building

I'm posting old Members' Library Home Page articles here to serve as an archive. This one was first published March 20, 2009, at http://members.characterfirst.com.

Luke Kallberg

We’ve been seeing the logic behind the Character First! Model of character implementation, and how the Members’ Library is designed to enhance your personal implementation. Step 1 is Leadership Training, Step 2 is Character Recognition, Step 3 is Teaching Resources, and Step 4 is Community Building.

A character emphasis is not a one-time event, but a process that requires supportive relationships within the group. Collaboration between members of the group, all moving forward in their understanding and application of good character, is a powerful force that grows in influence and impact. We often improve our maturity and skill unconsciously by doing things repeatedly. We can make this process even more effective if we are purposeful about it—at work, at home, in our family and, community.

- What events can be scheduled at various intervals in the future to ensure that character remains a focus of the group?

- What people within the group can gradually advance to have more influence in the character emphasis effort?

- What relationships can you purposefully build with people who will help you do what is right?

- The Library pages for “Relationships,” “For Kids,” and “For Teens” are designed to bring people together on projects.

This article is the last in a four-part series on using the Members’ Library.

Luke Kallberg manages website content for the Character Training Institute.

Part 3 - Teaching Resources

I'm posting old Members' Library Home Page articles here to serve as an archive. This one was first published March 6, 2009, at http://members.characterfirst.com.

Luke Kallberg

In the Character First! Model of character implementation, Step 1 is Leadership Training, Step 2 is Character Recognition, and Step 3 is Teaching Resources. Here’s how the Members’ Library supports you with teaching resources.

Who do you teach? Your children? Students? Direct reports at work? Don’t treat character as a separate topic, but use every teaching situation to point out the character necessary for success in that area. Life itself is a process of learning character through experiences and relationships. Teaching resources can bring many more options to your character program, and the Members’ Library supplies lots of materials and ideas for that purpose.

- What concepts or traits do you want to focus on or get everyone thinking about? Browse the library to find the precise ideas you want to communicate.

- Do you have just the right story, example, or picture to get the point across? Do you fully understand this aspect of good character? The Members’ Library has materials specially tailored for work, home, different age groups, leadership, employees, quick glances, and thoughtful pondering.

- Remember the character qualities by watching each video, printing posters, making a craft with your children, or setting your computer desktop wallpaper.

This article is the third in a four-part series on using the Members’ Library.

Luke Kallberg manages website content for the Character Training Institute.

Part 2 - Character Recognition

I'm posting old Members' Library Home Page articles here to serve as an archive. This one was first published in February, 2009, at http://members.characterfirst.com.

Luke Kallberg

The purpose of recognition is not to bribe or ingratiate those being praised into acting the way you want them to; it is to set real-life examples and concepts of what good character is and why it is important. The purpose of character recognition is to help everyone involved think clearly about what good character is. When you talk about various character qualities, those around you might not immediately understand what you mean or how it applies to them. (People are not, in general, used to thinking about life in terms of character.) When you praise others for specific qualities and point out the real benefits, it encourages the one receiving recognition and helps everyone think in terms of character.

- How often does your normal conversation include references to character traits in yourself or others? How often does the conversation of those around you include these concepts?

- How can you schedule times to publicly recognize others? How can you make recognition a habit?

- Look at the “How to Praise” and “On the Job” section of the library.

This article is the second in a four-part series on using the Members’ Library.

Luke Kallberg manages website content for the Character Training Institute.

Part 1 – Leadership Training

I'm posting old Members' Library Home Page articles here to serve as an archive. This one was first published on December 19, 2008, at http://members.characterfirst.com.

Luke Kallberg

The Members' Library is an online portal with more than 1,000 pages designed to give you ideas and inspiration as you discover and practice good character at work, at home, and in all of life. Here’s why this material is so needed and how you can put it to work for you.

Relationships are where the success or failure of our personal character is most openly revealed. Good character breeds good relationships, and bad character destroys relationships. Therefore, any attempt to build good character must focus on our relationships.

Good character doesn’t necessarily guarantee that all of your relationships will be peachy. But if we take a close look at any successful relationship, we will find good character at the core of that success. Over the next few weeks, let me share a four step process for making good character a force in your relationships. You can tailor it to your needs using the material in this members’ library. Today’s focus is “Leadership Training.”

Leadership Training

A character emphasis needs a strong commitment from the leadership in the group or organization. Without the support of parents, a child’s efforts can seem independent or rebellious. Without the support of managers, the efforts of employees can be counterproductive and raise suspicion. But when leaders invest their support and personal example, energy and resources become available and character becomes part of the larger direction that the group is going.

- In what groups, official or not, are you a leader?

- How can your endorsement of these concepts of good character enable those under your influence to learn and implement them?

- How can your example encourage others to practice good character?

- Check out the “Leadership Tips” for each character quality

This article is the first in a four-part series on using the Members’ Library.

Luke Kallberg manages website content for the Character Training Institute.

Continuing Series

We haven't gotten archiving working on the Members' Library Home Page articles yet, so I've decided to start posting the old articles from there every week or two. That way they'll at least be online somewhere. Just to give more differentiation, I won't post them all at once, but we'll get caught up pretty quickly nonetheless.