Competency capacity and one more thing

In my humble opinion, I think competency is overrated and enjoys too much hype and positive PR from well-meaning book authors and management consultants. In other words, competency is not everything it is cracked up to be.

Reaching the top of the management post at the young age of 30, I was managing an organization with hundreds of people and I felt then that it was my business knowledge and competency that got me there. A default thought would be that it would still be my business knowhow and competency that would sustain me for the future. In other words, competency is the secret sauce to achieving success in life.

I read books – tons of them. I listened to “tapes” – don’t laugh now… from cassette tapes, to CD’s to MP3’s. You could hardly speak to me if you get to sit beside me inside a plane. I was focused on the books I was reading and dead serious in acquiring knowledge and increasing my capacity by increasing my competency. I was totally convinced that the more competent I become, the greater my potential to build power and make money.

To say that I was a driven person would be an understatement. I was obsessed with self-improvement and personal growth, it was what motivated me. Competencies and built capacity really got me places. But as I grew older something began to bug me – Headlines!

I began to read news of competent, smart, skilled and educated people involved in scandals. These were the leaders who have reached their esteemed positions and are now forced out, resigned or even slapped with legal and criminal case because of embezzlement, addiction, extra-marital affairs, abuses, ego or just by being a jerk.

These were smart, highly educated, intelligent people with incredible minds equipped with skills and competency and were at the top of their fields. Some of them ran away with millions of money belonging to other people, while others were sued and put in jail. You must have known or at least heard of them. Politicians, athletes, business leaders, show business personalities, industry moguls and even religious leaders falling one by one, and this began to make me think. I am nowhere in their league, yet if a scandal and a fall can hit them, would I not be wiser to learn from their lessons and avoid the same fate?

Suppose competency and capacity are not the only ingredients to success? What if they are short-term combustion materials and fuels that can bring a person to a considerable degree of success, but can these sustain their success? If not, then what is it that can?

Reading a book authored by Charles Swindoll many years ago, he provided me with an answer and it stuck with me all these years. The title of the book is “The Quest for Character.” I must have read and re-read that book many times. I now conclude that all the competency and capacity in the world would not compensate for deficiency of character.

Character is so underrated and underappreciated as the world continues to convince us that “Only the strongest and the fittest survive.” “The end justifies the means.” “Look out for Number 1 – the self!” But if you take the time to study character, you would realize that it makes great business sense.

You may be skillful, articulate, even good looking and all, but if people do not like you they do not want to work with you. And one day when they become more successful than you, they will vow never to have any involvement with you. You may be the smartest software developer in your field, but if you lie, people will not trust you. You may earn tons and tons of cash, but if you abuse, mistreat, and disrespect people who work with you, they will either leave or they will make sure you do.

Lack of character destroys careers, ruin friendships, demolishes influence, and even shatters families. As I think about this, could it not be that competency and capacity should always be riding on the platform of character that can bring success sustainability and increase our inspiration, influence, and even legacy? Just think about it. Those who have gone ahead of us and have been reclaimed by The Author of life – we remember their contributions and extol their character more than we extol their competencies and capacities. Competencies and capacity create the first impression, but character leaves the lasting one.

Nevertheless, we keep on learning, we keep on improving. Read books, get mentored, attend seminars. Network with people, get coached and strive for excellence, but we should make sure that we live godly lives as it develops and builds our character.

At the end of the day… or perhaps at the end of life’s journey; I would still be of the opinion that character trumps competencies and capacity every time all the time. But then again that is just my humble opinion.

(Attend the two inspiring days of leadership training with Francis Kong in his highly acclaimed Level Up Leadership seminar-workshop from Feb. 19 to  20 at Makati Diamond Hotel across Greenbelt 1. For registration or inquiries contact April at +63928-559-1798 or register online at www.levelupleadership.ph)