Leadership Traits and Values
for the Professional
Ted Randall
“Character is much
easier kept than
recovered.”
~Thomas Paine
Account Fraud
A longtime campaign
accountant siphoned off
nearly $700,000 from a
California candidate to pay
her credit cards, a mortgage
and business bills, Kinde
Durkee, who heads Durkee &
Associates in Burbank, Calif.,
was arrested Friday on
suspicion of mail fraud by
the FBI. Durkee furtively
shifted money out of state
Assemblyman Jose Solorio's
2010 campaign to pay for an
array of debts, from a
Disneyland restaurant to
shopping at Costco to her
mother's care at an assistedliving facility.
Ponzi Scheme- Miami
The NCAA has launched an
investigation into claims that
University of Miami football
players received improper
cash and benefits from a
recently convicted Ponzi
schemer, Nevin Shapiro, who
pleaded guilty to heading a
$930-million fraud scheme
and was sentenced to 20 –
years in prison in June.
Pill Bust – Murder
After a three-year
investigation, federal
authorities announced the
details of Operation Oxy
Alley, a sweeping indictment
charging 32 people under
racketeering statutes for their
involvement in South
Florida-based pill mills that
doled out 20 million
oxycodone pills and profited
more than $40 million dollars
from illegal sales of
controlled substances. In a
companion indictment, local
authorities charged a doctor
with first-degree murder in
the death of a West Palm
Beach man who died within
hours of filling a prescription
for a painkiller…
Midshipmen
Expelled
Secretary of the
Navy expelled 24
Navy Academy
mid-shipmen in
the biggest
cheating scandal
in school’s history
Overview
 Discuss concrete concepts that will make the
ambiguous idea of professional leadership more
accessible
 Define professional leadership in terms of traits and
values
 Tools to develop a strong internal value system
Professional= Character= Leadership
What is a Professional?
What defines a Leader?
A Professional
 A professional is a person with a special skill set, an
expert in a particular field: Law, Medicine, Education
 A professional exudes a particular style of behavior or
decorum
 Character – Behavior habits that can be developed
through repeated practice. Good character
contributes to success.
A Leader
"The manager administers, the leader innovates.
The manager maintains, the leader develops.
The manager relies on systems, the leader relies on
people.
The manger counts on controls, the leader counts on
trust.
The manager does things right, the leader does the right
thing."
Fortune Magazine
Traits and Values
 Professional Leadership is defined by two ideas:
Leadership Traits, and Professional Core Values
 United States Marine Corps –236 years of proud
history and tradition – making warriors, leaders and
upstanding citizens.
 Former Senator/Astronaut:




John Glenn
Former Secretary of State:
James Baker
Governor of Oregon:
Ted Kulongonski
Founder/Former CEO Domino’s Pizza: Tom Monaghan
Founder/CEO Fed Ex:
Fred W. Smith
Professional
Values
USS Virtus
HONOR
COURAGE
COMMITTMENT
HONOR
 This is your keel. The keel is the main central member
of the bones of a wooden ship it is integral to the ships
performance, structure and strength. Honor
exemplifies the ultimate in ethical behavior. To never
lie, cheat or steal. Abide by an uncompromising code
of integrity; to respect human dignity; to have respect
and concern for people; to be accountable for your
actions; fulfill obligations; and hold others
accountable for their actions
COURAGE
 This is the bow of our ship. Plowing through the
waters, cutting a path of confidence for us. It is the
mental, moral and physical strength in us to do what is
right, to master our fear, and adhere to a higher
standard of professional conduct. It provides the
strength to go that extra mile.
COMMITMENT
 The sails of our ship. The material that fills our spirit
with determination and dedication. It enables us to
maintain the highest order of discipline, to take pride
in our profession, and to pursue an unrelenting
determination to achieve a standard of excellence in
everything we do.
The Compass Rose:
Leadership Traits
Justice
Judgment
Dependability
Initiative
Decisiveness
Tact
Integrity
Enthusiasm
Bearing
Unselfishness
Courage
Knowledge
Loyalty
Endurance
Traits
 Leadership Traits - qualities of thought and action
which, if upheld in daily activities, will help you earn
the respect and confidence of your peers, employees
etc.
 Your moral compass and the foundation to
professional leadership
TRAITS
 JUSTICE
 Justice is defined as the practice of being fair and consistent. A just person gives
consideration to each side of a situation and bases rewards or punishments on merit.
 Suggestions for Improvement: Be honest with yourself about why you make a particular
decision. Avoid favoritism. Try to be fair at all times and treat all things and people in an
equal manner.
 JUDGMENT
 Judgment is your ability to think about things clearly, calmly, and in an orderly fashion so
that you can make good decisions.
 Suggestions for Improvement: You can improve your judgment if you avoid making rash
decisions. Approach problems with a common sense attitude. Avoid being reactionary
 DEPENDABILITY
 Dependability means that you can be relied upon to perform your duties properly. It
means that you can be trusted to complete a job. It is the willing and voluntary support of
the policies and orders of the chain of command. Dependability also means consistently
putting forth your best effort in an attempt to achieve the highest standards of
performance.
 Suggestions for Improvement: You can increase your dependability by forming the habit
of being where you're supposed to be on time, by not making excuses and by carrying out
every task to the best of your ability regardless of whether you like it or agree with it.
Traits
 INITIATIVE
 Initiative is taking action even though you haven't been given orders. It means meeting
new and unexpected situations with prompt action. It includes using resourcefulness to
get something done without the normal material or methods being available to you.
 Suggestions for Improvement: To improve your initiative, work on staying mentally and
physically alert. Be aware of things that need to be done and then to do them without
having to be told.
 DECISIVENESS
 Decisiveness means that you are able to make good decisions without delay. Get all the
facts and weight them against each other. By acting calmly and quickly, you should arrive
at a sound decision. You announce your decisions in a clear, firm, professional manner.
 Suggestions for Improvement: Practice being positive in your actions instead of acting
half-heartedly or changing your mind on an issue.
 TACT
 Tact means that you can deal with people in a manner that will maintain good relations
and avoid problems. It means that you are polite, calm, and firm.
 Suggestions for Improvement: Begin to develop your tact by trying to be courteous and
cheerful at all times. Treat others as you would like to be treated.
Traits
 INTEGRITY
 Integrity means that you are honest and truthful in what you say or do. You put honesty,
sense of duty, and sound moral principles above all else.
 Suggestions for Improvement: Be absolutely honest and truthful at all times. Stand up for
what you believe to be right.
 ENTHUSIASM
 Enthusiasm is defined as a sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of your
duties. If you are enthusiastic, you are optimistic, cheerful, and willing to accept the
challenges.
 Suggestions for Improvement: Understanding and belief in your mission will add to your
enthusiasm for your job. Try to understand why even uninteresting jobs must be done.
 BEARING
 Bearing is the way you conduct and carry yourself. Your manner should reflect alertness,
competence, confidence, and control. A Positive First Impression.
 Suggestions for Improvement: To develop bearing, you should hold yourself to the
highest standards of personal conduct. Never be content with meeting only the
minimum requirements.
Traits
 INTEGRITY
 Integrity means that you are honest and truthful in what you say or do. You put honesty,
sense of duty, and sound moral principles above all else.
 Suggestions for Improvement: Be absolutely honest and truthful at all times. Stand up for
what you believe to be right.
 ENTHUSIASM
 Enthusiasm is defined as a sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of your
duties. If you are enthusiastic, you are optimistic, cheerful, and willing to accept the
challenges.
 Suggestions for Improvement: Understanding and belief in your mission will add to your
enthusiasm for your job. Try to understand why even uninteresting jobs must be done.
 BEARING
 Bearing is the way you conduct and carry yourself. Your manner should reflect alertness,
competence, confidence, and control. A Positive First Impression.
 Suggestions for Improvement: To develop bearing, you should hold yourself to the
highest standards of personal conduct. Never be content with meeting only the
minimum requirements.
Traits
 UNSELFISHNESS
 Unselfishness means that you avoid making yourself comfortable at the expense of
others. Be considerate of others. Give credit to those who deserve it.
 Suggestions for Improvement: Avoid using your position or rank for personal gain, safety,
or pleasure at the expensive of others. Be considerate of others.
 COURAGE
 Courage is what allows you to remain calm while recognizing fear. Moral courage means
having the inner strength to stand up for what is right and to accept blame when
something is your fault. Physical courage means that you can continue to function
effectively when there is physical danger present.
 Suggestions for Improvement: You can begin to control fear by practicing self-discipline
and calmness. If you fear doing certain things required in your daily life, force yourself to
do them until you can control your reaction.
 KNOWLEDGE
 Knowledge is the understanding of a science or art. Knowledge means that you have
acquired information and that you understand people. Your knowledge should be broad,
and in addition to knowing your job, you should know the laws and policies of your
profession and keep up with current events.
 Suggestions for Improvement: Suggestions for Improvement: Increase your knowledge by
remaining alert. Listen, observe, and find out about things you don't understand. Study
journals and professional literature. Seek self-improvement
Traits
 LOYALTY
 Loyalty means that you are devoted to your family, friends and to your seniors, peers, and
subordinates. The motto of the U. S. Marine Corps is Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful).
You owe unwavering loyalty up and down the chain of command, to seniors,
subordinates, peers, and friends.
 Suggestions for Improvement: To improve your loyalty you should show your loyalty by
never discussing the problems of employer or boss with outsiders. Never talk about
seniors unfavorably in front of your subordinates. Once a decision is made and the order
is given to execute it, carry out that order willingly as if it were your own.
 ENDURANCE
 Endurance is the mental and physical stamina that is measured by your ability to
withstand pain, fatigue, stress, and hardship. For example, enduring pain or fatigue
during a long work day or shift.
 Suggestions for Improvement: Develop your endurance by engaging in physical training
that will strengthen your body. Finish every task to the best of your ability by forcing
yourself to continue when you are physically tired and your mind is sluggish.
 Simple acronym: JJDIDTIEBUCKLE
Conclusion
 Discussed 14 Character Traits
 JJDIDTIEBUCKLE
 Three Core Values
 HONOR, COURAGE, COMMITMENT
 Tangible means of defining your character – developing
your professionalism
 “Try not to become a man of success but rather a man of
value.”
Einstein