EP176: Key #1: Character – The Foundation of Authentic Leadership
KNOW YOURSELF BETTER
So you can lead better.
Enjoy!
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(The notes below are only a brief bullet point summary of what is discussed in the podcast. Be sure to listen to get all of the goodness! If you would like a full transcription of the episode, please send an email request to: angie@angie-robinson.com. We’d be happy to provide that!)
In Episode 175 of the Leadership Magic podcast, I introduced my leadership framework: The Three Keys to Leadership Magic—Character, Confidence, and Connection.
These three keys are the heart of how I support leaders in transforming their impact. I believe leadership is a deeply human experience, and that experience begins within. It starts with understanding yourself, believing in yourself, and valuing others. So today, I’m diving deeper into the first and foundational key: Character.
What Is Character, Really?
When you hear the word "character," your mind might go to a fictional person in a movie or play—maybe even a Disney character. But in the leadership context, character is how you think, feel, and behave. It’s the combination of your values, beliefs, mindset, and personality.
Character is the core of who you are—and it’s not static. While we may be born with certain traits or temperaments, our experiences, choices, and environment all shape how we show up.
The mission of this key is simple: Get clear on who you are so you can intentionally leverage your strengths and shift what’s not serving you. This inner clarity is foundational for building trust, showing up authentically, and creating meaningful impact as a leader.
Why Character Matters
Your character is what determines how you show up—beneath the title. When your actions align with your values consistently, you build trust. When you know yourself well, you no longer need to perform or pretend, which frees up energy for authentic connection and decision-making.
But when there’s misalignment? You’ll feel it. Others will sense it, too.
Sometimes, misalignment can be subtle. I coached a leader once who believed he had an open-door policy—but his team didn’t feel that openness. Through our coaching, we discovered one of his top values was building strong relationships. That value showed up clearly outside of work, but not inside. He had unintentionally closed himself off at work, thinking professionalism meant avoiding personal connection. Once he realized this, he redefined what leadership looked like for him—one that aligned with his values and fostered real trust.
This is the power of knowing yourself.
The Role of Self-Awareness
Lack of awareness creates blind spots—those parts of ourselves we don’t see, but others do. And when left unchecked, those blind spots can damage trust and team effectiveness.
Gaining self-awareness allows you to lead with clarity, model vulnerability, and build psychological safety. It’s the starting point for the other two keys—Confidence and Connection.
But investing in this kind of self-work doesn’t come without challenges. Common roadblocks include:
Not seeing the value in this kind of reflection
Not knowing how to start
Being uncomfortable with what might come up
Believing that character can’t change
Operating from outdated leadership definitions
Lacking trust in ourselves or others
One leader told me flat-out that nothing could rebuild his trust in his supervisor because “it’s a character flaw and character doesn’t change.” But I challenge that belief. While we may not be able to snap our fingers and erase traits, we can bring awareness to them, learn how they’re showing up, and choose to shift behaviors when it matters.
Character can evolve—when we’re willing to do the work.
So How Do You Deepen Awareness of Your Character?
Here are some practical ways to begin:
Reflect: When do you feel most confident, joyful, or fulfilled? What tasks or situations do you avoid? What do others say about you—or not say?
Use Tools: Assessments like Insights Discovery, CliftonStrengths, DiSC, or EQ tools can provide valuable insight.
Explore Your Values: You can use my free values exercise at angierobinson.com to uncover what truly matters to you.
Define Your Future Self: Who do you want to be? What do you want to be known for? What kind of leader do you want to become?
Ask for Feedback: Invite input from people who know you well—formally through a 360 assessment or informally through intentional questions.
Release Judgment: Be willing to get uncomfortable. Approach this work with curiosity, not shame.
And if it feels too big to do alone? That’s where a coach can be incredibly helpful. I have a coach too. Even though I guide others through this work, I need support to step out of my own thoughts and see things from a different perspective.
You Have a Choice
Once you start to uncover more about your character, you have choices. You can decide what to leverage more. You can choose to shift behaviors that aren’t helping you create the impact you want. Or you can say, “This is who I am, and I’m okay with that”—as long as you understand the results that come with that choice.
This work—this self-awareness—is foundational. It’s magical. And it’s where real leadership begins.
Are you willing to invest the time to deepen that awareness?
If so, there’s no better time to start than now.
What Do You Think?
How much time have you spent understanding your character as a leader?
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