Character is about what we stand for, our inner self.

Like golf, leadership is not reserved for a privileged few who possess natural talent on the course or who are perceived to be natural leaders, but for those who choose to practice and constantly improve themselves. We make the choice to learn skills and develop character.

The greatest contribution from playing golf is that character can be developed. Golf and leadership teach us about honesty, authenticity, predictability, tenacity, courage and will. They also teach us physical and mental skills.

In their most recent edition of The Leadership Challenge, Kouzes and Posner discuss their research of characteristics that people admire most in leaders. Since their first study in1987, and every study thereafter, the top four characteristics that leaders should possess are to be honest, forward-looking, inspiring and competent. Honesty has been the number one characteristic people admire most on every survey. The other three switch their order of preference, yet have always been one of the top four.

It is obvious that individuals do not want to be lied to or deceived. They will follow someone who is worthy of their trust. They want to know that person is truthful, ethical and principled. The terms integrity and character are synonymous when talking about honesty.

Character plays itself out on the golf course and in the executive's lives. Golf has an underlying theme of being an honorable game, one of personal honesty. While there may be many exaggerations in playing golf, golf well-played demands individual honesty. If you are honest with yourself and with others, it probably carries over to your leadership and your business. If there is a lack of honesty then there can be no trust. Without trust there will be no covenant between leaders and followers, and subsequently leaders will fail.

Related to honesty is authenticity and predictability. Authenticity is being consistent in what you believe, what you say and what you do. We can see this in the game of golf. Who you are on the golf course, playing a round with three friends is most often who you are.

Who you are and what you believe in contribute to predictability, the second essential characteristic in honesty. Predictability is consistency in our approach to a leadership challenge, as well as the action we take and how we follow up. This is an attribute of a leader that is highly valued. People want to know who you are when they need you. In golf it is about how you address the ball, the take away and the follow through. In leadership it's about your mental preparation and personal approachability, your actions and how you follow through with your commitments. Commitments not made and kept destroy a leaders influence and credibility.

As we play this hole keep in mind that people want leaders who show consistency of their beliefs, their words and their actions. You have to play your shot where it lies. This means accepting personal responsibility for your situation, controlling yourself in how you approach things, and following through. You must make conscious choices and focus on what you are doing.

Leadership and golf situations always change. It is imperative to learn new things and grow with each changing situation. All of this develops our leadership characteristics. The personal choices we make in a round of golf or in a leadership situation will be what defines us.

So how are you doing so far through eight holes of golf and leadership? Need golf lessons to improve your game? I can't help you with golf lessons, but if you need a coach to help you improve your leadership skills or to help someone in your organization overcome issues that are getting in their way, I can help. It is an investment that will pay dividends many times over.

See you next month on the ninth and final hole of this adventure. Thanks for staying with me as we play the signature hole of the course.