Abstract:

Leadership is one of the most emphasized competencies in modern education. Although character is generally recognized as its key aspect, character-based leadership is yet remains an underestimated topic in the research. There is evidence that character can be operationalized and measured in relation to performance; however, there is a need of a complex character-based leadership model and measure. Assuming that character traits are mostly formed by process of learning, and therefore they are malleable, they present an especially promising dimension for education.

This paper aims to review the selected measures of character and leadership and to summarize the key findings from their development, validation, and practical use. As character-based leadership has most progressively been studied and applied in the army, the paper draws mainly on the research in the military context. The first chapter defines the terms “leadership” and “character” as understood in this paper. Next, it describes two contemporary psychological approaches to character: psychobiological theory of personality and character strengths survey. The question of character developability is also discussed. The second chapter describes in detail selected measures of character (Temperament and Character Inventory, TCI; Character Assessment Rating Scale, CARS; Values in Action Inventory of Strengths, VIA-IS; Army-Based Character Scale, ABC; Strengths of Character Inventory, SCI; Character Strength Inventory, CSI) and character-based leadership (Virtuous Leadership Questionnaire, VLQ; Character Strengths in Leadership Scale, CSLS; Leadership Character Insight Assessment, LCIA; OBServation of Character In Field, OBSCIF).

The paper provides an outline of the existing knowledge for the development and improvement of psychodiagnostic tools related to character-based leadership. Educational organizations may follow the example of Norwegian Military Academy (NMA), which already implemented custom-made measure of character strengths in the evaluation and development of leadership at their students. Taking this approach may be one of the responses to the need of an innovative approach to leadership, which 21st century brings to organizations.

Keywords:

Leadership innovation, character strengths measurement, psychodiagnostic tool, character development.