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Leaders in business have many opportunities to promote good character in the workplace, in the homes of employees and in the community. One simple way is to consciously increase positive messages about the importance of good character in the workplace and the home. Another is to systematically reduce or eliminate negative messages that tend to undermine commitment to “The Six Pillars of Character.” There are Five Vehicles for Influence:

1. EMPLOYEE HIRING, TRAINING AND PROMOTION • Prominently and explicitly include character considerations in recruiting materials, during interviews and in the hiring decision. • Assure that none of your products and services undermine character-building. • Include positive messages about volunteerism, positive parenting and celebrating CHARACTER COUNTS! Week in advertising, billings and other mailings. • Distribute positive parenting kits and offer classes to customers and vendors. • Become a Project Partner of national, state or local character development projects. • Provide in-kind and loaned executive contributions to national or local character development programs. • Support the work of the Institute for Character Development throughout the state of Iowa.

2. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS • Use internal communication channels to create a family-friendly environment that overtly prizes positive role-modeling in work, in the home and in the community by encouraging volunteerism, mentoring and active character-building parenting through: • Internal newsletters • Mailers • Workplace postings • Electronic bulletin boards • Cafeteria table tents • Positive Parenting kits and classes

3. EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS • In communicating with customers, vendors and others, consciously communicate and model encouraging and affirming messages about character and ethics. • Advertise and market only in a manner that honors the values embodied in the Six Pillars of Character. • Assure that none of your products and services undermine character-building. • CHARACTER COUNTS! Week in advertising, billings and other mailings. • Distribute positive parenting kits and offer classes to customers and vendors.

4. FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES • Become a general partner of local character development committees and task forces by providing general support. • Become a Project Partner of national, state or local character development projects. • Provide in-kind and loaned executive contributions to national or local character development programs. • Support the work of the Institute for Character Development throughout the state of Iowa.

5. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP • Use public outreach structures to encourage and incorporate character development mentoring and support. • Use corporate influence to stimulate educational and youth-serving organizations to become active in character development programs. • Use corporate influence to encourage business organizations (Chambers of Commerce, Business Round table, conference boards and other companies) to support character development programs in their communities.

Action Ideas for the Business Community

• Adopt your CHARACTER COUNTS! and display them in your business.

• Establish Community Service Awards recognizing citizenship, leadership, service, and exemplary character.

• Be proactive in teaching ethics and establishing expectations for ethical behavior in the business community and community at large.

• Set up the expectation that your business will be an organization of character.

• Provide training in CHARACTER COUNTS! for your employees.

• Encourage and affirm the display of good character in you employees, especially youth.

• Provide a day a month for employees to go into schools to work with children (paid release time).

• Identify business leaders who can effectively share their personal “character story” – struggles and successes – with students and/or the media.

• Highlight the importance of character in business ads, on billboards, commercials, etc.

• Utilize the Six Pillar language in business meetings and in communication with employees and customers.

• Your financial contribution can also help us with educators across the state, providing them with the training and resources they need to do their jobs more effectively.

Adapted from The North Carolina Center for Character Education, Inc.

Using the TEAM Strategy in Your Workplace

T TEACH
Teach your employees that their character counts—that their success and happiness will depend on who they are inside, not what they have or how they look. Tell them that people of character know the difference between right and wrong because they guide their thoughts and actions by six basic rules of living (the Six Pillars of Character): trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and good citizenship. Develop an Ethics Code or Standards of Conduct to promote ethical behavior—not to boost productivity and profits.

E ENFORCE
Instill the Six Pillars of Character by rewarding good behavior (praise is usually enough) and by discouraging all instances of bad behavior by imposing fair, consistent consequences that prove you are serious about character. Demonstrate courage and firmness of will by enforcing the core values when it is difficult to do so. Be certain that your ethic code’s provisions are enforceable in terms of union agreements, other regulations and Constitutional rights. Be sure there is a mechanism for enforcement and the resources are available to enforce the code. A credible and efficient process for receiving complaints, investigating charges and determining guilt or innocence is crucial.

A ADVOCATE
Continuously encourage your employees (and vendors) to live up to the Six Pillars of Character. Be an advocate for character. Don’t be neutral about the importance of character or casual about improper conduct. Be clear and uncompromising: that you want and expect your employees to be trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair, caring and good citizens.

M MODEL
Be careful and self-conscious about setting a good example in everything you say and do. Hold yourself to the highest standards by honoring the Six Pillars of Character at all times. You may be a good model now, but remember, you don’t have to be sick to get better. Everything you do, and don’t do, sends a message about your values. When you slip (and most of us do), act the way you want your employees to behave when they act improperly. Be accountable, apologize sincerely—and do better!

What does CHARACTER COUNTS! teach that employers look for in their employees? (link to that page)

Chart that shows skills that employers look for compared to characteristics of pillars.

Adapted from The North Carolina Center for Character Education, Inc.

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Action Ideas for Civic Organizations
• Provide service opportunities for children, e.g., crop walk, food bank, and neighborhood cleanup.
• Adopt CHARACTER COUNTS and display the Six Pillars in your meeting place.
• Set up the expectation that your organization will be noted for character.
• Establish Community Service Awards recognizing citizenship, leadership, service, and exemplary character.
• Be proactive in discussing ethics and establishing expectations for ethical behavior.
• Design “Help Your Neighbor” community projects that relate to the Six Pillars. • Provide positive role models, especially male role models, in the community and in the schools.
• Highlight your community as a community that values good character.
• Provide “discussion cells” to cross diverse lines within your community.
• Encourage and affirm the display of good character in youth with whom you are working.
• Adopt a school and provide mentors and tutors: include the six pillars in discussions.
• Make sure that your entire community is aware of CHARACTER COUNTS! and understands the importance of this initiative.
• Provide resources to develop and implement training for teachers and parents.

Adapted from The North Carolina Center for Character Education, Inc.

To top of page

Action Ideas for the Faith Community
• Devote time in sermons and children’s programs to the relationship between morals, character, and behavior.
• Provide parent discussion groups or parenting classes.
• Make sure the faith community is aware of the six pillars and understands the importance of this initiative.
• Pray for character development in our children and in our community.
• Display the Six Pillars of Character and integrate that common language into your programs.
• Recognize students and what they are doing related to character education.
• Widen your circle; reach out to children who may not be part of your congregation, especially those lacking positive role models.
• Set high expectations for character at any age, in any group, and affirm their practice.
• Provide tutors/mentors for schools in your community or develop a tutoring/mentoring program at your location.

Adapted from The North Carolina Center for Character Education, Inc.

To top of page

30 Ways Mayors and Local Governments Can Promote Good Character
1. Join the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition.
2. Issue a Mayor’s/City Council Proclamation endorsing the Six Pillars and encouraging all employees and citizens to model and promote them. 3. Take part in CHARACTER COUNTS! Week (third week of October); encourage schools, families, and community groups to do activities that promote character.
4. Create a leadership group from all parts of the community; provide character education training with a commitment from a nucleus to serve as trainers.
5. Sponsor a community training on CHARACTER COUNTS!
6. Assess community needs and character resources.
7. Establish different committees (e.g. on schools, families, youth organizations, sports, the media) to deal with different aspects of the character challenge.
8. Ask major employers and service clubs to help fund the effort; ask printers to donate printing of store-front posters, flyers, school cafeteria placemats, etc.
9. Ask the Chamber of Commerce to promote CHARACTER COUNTS!
10. Ask youth organizations such as Scouts, 4-H, camps, sports leagues, and after-school care programs to incorporate the six pillars into their activities.
11. Train adult mentors to promote the Six Pillars.
12. Ask all schools, K-12, to infuse the Six Pillars into their daily curricular and extracurricular activities.
13. Help community groups exchange character ideas; collect successful strategies in a Book of Character.
14. Arrange for local media coverage of how schools and community groups are promoting character.
15. Ask the local newspaper to run a series of articles, each focused on a particular trait and spotlighting ex-emplary students or other community members.
16. Have the Police Department sponsor a “Do the Right Thing” program honoring young people for acts of good character.
17. Have City Council present certificates to youth and other groups that perform public service; give a spe-cial monthly award to a Person of Character.
18. Challenge all public employees, including candidates for office, to model the Six Pillars.
19. Display the Six Pillars, the CHARACTER COUNTS! logo, and pertinent quotes wherever possible: in the Mayor’s office, City Hall lobby and Council Room; on city buses, trucks, pavilions, parade floats, fair exhibits, and school marquees.
20. Have all computers in city/county offices display the monthly pillar and a quote when employees log on.
21. Ask businesses to display the monthly pillar in their storefronts and in the workplace environment.
22. Use the Pillars as employee performance expectations; ask employers in incorporate the pillars into in-terviews.
23. As mayor, visit schools to support character efforts.
24. Invite a state of U.S. senator or representative to speak at a community event on the importance of good character; get a prominent sports figure to endorse your effort. Invite school and community groups to City Hall to describe their character education efforts; use the community access channel to televise these reports.
25. Create a Teen Council to advise the Mayor and City Council on youth matters. Work with youth to cre-ate a teen center.
26. Work with schools and community agencies to expand students’ opportunities for service learning.
27. To discourage gang membership, seek to involve all middle school students in an after-school club or sport. Teach existing gangs how to resolve conflicts.
28. Ask faith communities to incorporate the traits into sermons and religious instruction.
29. Sponsor a Random Acts of Kindness Week or Month.
30. Create a community Family Resource Center that provides parent education and family counseling; encourage parents to read their children books that build character; provide list of recommended books.

Adapted from Dr. Thomas Lickona, Director, Center for the 4th and 5th Rs

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About Us Goals Calendar Training Results Resources Contact Us Character in Sports Iowa Institute for Character Development Links	Business Civic Organization Faith Parent/Family Government
	Resources Business Leaders in business have many opportunities to promote good character in the workplace, in the homes of employees and in the community. One simple way is to consciously increase positive messages about the importance of good character in the workplace and the home. Another is to systematically reduce or eliminate negative messages that tend to undermine commitment to “The Six Pillars of Character.” There are Five Vehicles for Influence: 1. EMPLOYEE HIRING, TRAINING AND PROMOTION • Prominently and explicitly include character considerations in recruiting materials, during interviews and in the hiring decision. • Assure that none of your products and services undermine character-building. • Include positive messages about volunteerism, positive parenting and celebrating CHARACTER COUNTS! Week in advertising, billings and other mailings. • Distribute positive parenting kits and offer classes to customers and vendors. • Become a Project Partner of national, state or local character development projects. • Provide in-kind and loaned executive contributions to national or local character development programs. • Support the work of the Institute for Character Development throughout the state of Iowa. 2. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS • Use internal communication channels to create a family-friendly environment that overtly prizes positive role-modeling in work, in the home and in the community by encouraging volunteerism, mentoring and active character-building parenting through: • Internal newsletters • Mailers • Workplace postings • Electronic bulletin boards • Cafeteria table tents • Positive Parenting kits and classes 3. EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS • In communicating with customers, vendors and others, consciously communicate and model encouraging and affirming messages about character and ethics. • Advertise and market only in a manner that honors the values embodied in the Six Pillars of Character. • Assure that none of your products and services undermine character-building. • CHARACTER COUNTS! Week in advertising, billings and other mailings. • Distribute positive parenting kits and offer classes to customers and vendors. 4. FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES • Become a general partner of local character development committees and task forces by providing general support. • Become a Project Partner of national, state or local character development projects. • Provide in-kind and loaned executive contributions to national or local character development programs. • Support the work of the Institute for Character Development throughout the state of Iowa. 5. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP • Use public outreach structures to encourage and incorporate character development mentoring and support. • Use corporate influence to stimulate educational and youth-serving organizations to become active in character development programs. • Use corporate influence to encourage business organizations (Chambers of Commerce, Business Round table, conference boards and other companies) to support character development programs in their communities. Action Ideas for the Business Community • Adopt your CHARACTER COUNTS! and display them in your business. • Establish Community Service Awards recognizing citizenship, leadership, service, and exemplary character. • Be proactive in teaching ethics and establishing expectations for ethical behavior in the business community and community at large. • Set up the expectation that your business will be an organization of character. • Provide training in CHARACTER COUNTS! for your employees. • Encourage and affirm the display of good character in you employees, especially youth. • Provide a day a month for employees to go into schools to work with children (paid release time). • Identify business leaders who can effectively share their personal “character story” – struggles and successes – with students and/or the media. • Highlight the importance of character in business ads, on billboards, commercials, etc. • Utilize the Six Pillar language in business meetings and in communication with employees and customers. • Your financial contribution can also help us with educators across the state, providing them with the training and resources they need to do their jobs more effectively. Adapted from The North Carolina Center for Character Education, Inc. Using the TEAM Strategy in Your Workplace T TEACH Teach your employees that their character counts—that their success and happiness will depend on who they are inside, not what they have or how they look. Tell them that people of character know the difference between right and wrong because they guide their thoughts and actions by six basic rules of living (the Six Pillars of Character): trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and good citizenship. Develop an Ethics Code or Standards of Conduct to promote ethical behavior—not to boost productivity and profits. E ENFORCE Instill the Six Pillars of Character by rewarding good behavior (praise is usually enough) and by discouraging all instances of bad behavior by imposing fair, consistent consequences that prove you are serious about character. Demonstrate courage and firmness of will by enforcing the core values when it is difficult to do so. Be certain that your ethic code’s provisions are enforceable in terms of union agreements, other regulations and Constitutional rights. Be sure there is a mechanism for enforcement and the resources are available to enforce the code. A credible and efficient process for receiving complaints, investigating charges and determining guilt or innocence is crucial. A ADVOCATE Continuously encourage your employees (and vendors) to live up to the Six Pillars of Character. Be an advocate for character. Don’t be neutral about the importance of character or casual about improper conduct. Be clear and uncompromising: that you want and expect your employees to be trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair, caring and good citizens. M MODEL Be careful and self-conscious about setting a good example in everything you say and do. Hold yourself to the highest standards by honoring the Six Pillars of Character at all times. You may be a good model now, but remember, you don’t have to be sick to get better. Everything you do, and don’t do, sends a message about your values. When you slip (and most of us do), act the way you want your employees to behave when they act improperly. Be accountable, apologize sincerely—and do better! What does CHARACTER COUNTS! teach that employers look for in their employees? (link to that page) Chart that shows skills that employers look for compared to characteristics of pillars. Adapted from The North Carolina Center for Character Education, Inc. To top of page Action Ideas for Civic Organizations • Provide service opportunities for children, e.g., crop walk, food bank, and neighborhood cleanup. • Adopt CHARACTER COUNTS and display the Six Pillars in your meeting place. • Set up the expectation that your organization will be noted for character. • Establish Community Service Awards recognizing citizenship, leadership, service, and exemplary character. • Be proactive in discussing ethics and establishing expectations for ethical behavior. • Design “Help Your Neighbor” community projects that relate to the Six Pillars. • Provide positive role models, especially male role models, in the community and in the schools. • Highlight your community as a community that values good character. • Provide “discussion cells” to cross diverse lines within your community. • Encourage and affirm the display of good character in youth with whom you are working. • Adopt a school and provide mentors and tutors: include the six pillars in discussions. • Make sure that your entire community is aware of CHARACTER COUNTS! and understands the importance of this initiative. • Provide resources to develop and implement training for teachers and parents. Adapted from The North Carolina Center for Character Education, Inc. To top of page Action Ideas for the Faith Community • Devote time in sermons and children’s programs to the relationship between morals, character, and behavior. • Provide parent discussion groups or parenting classes. • Make sure the faith community is aware of the six pillars and understands the importance of this initiative. • Pray for character development in our children and in our community. • Display the Six Pillars of Character and integrate that common language into your programs. • Recognize students and what they are doing related to character education. • Widen your circle; reach out to children who may not be part of your congregation, especially those lacking positive role models. • Set high expectations for character at any age, in any group, and affirm their practice. • Provide tutors/mentors for schools in your community or develop a tutoring/mentoring program at your location. Adapted from The North Carolina Center for Character Education, Inc. To top of page 30 Ways Mayors and Local Governments Can Promote Good Character 1. Join the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition. 2. Issue a Mayor’s/City Council Proclamation endorsing the Six Pillars and encouraging all employees and citizens to model and promote them. 3. Take part in CHARACTER COUNTS! Week (third week of October); encourage schools, families, and community groups to do activities that promote character. 4. Create a leadership group from all parts of the community; provide character education training with a commitment from a nucleus to serve as trainers. 5. Sponsor a community training on CHARACTER COUNTS! 6. Assess community needs and character resources. 7. Establish different committees (e.g. on schools, families, youth organizations, sports, the media) to deal with different aspects of the character challenge. 8. Ask major employers and service clubs to help fund the effort; ask printers to donate printing of store-front posters, flyers, school cafeteria placemats, etc. 9. Ask the Chamber of Commerce to promote CHARACTER COUNTS! 10. Ask youth organizations such as Scouts, 4-H, camps, sports leagues, and after-school care programs to incorporate the six pillars into their activities. 11. Train adult mentors to promote the Six Pillars. 12. Ask all schools, K-12, to infuse the Six Pillars into their daily curricular and extracurricular activities. 13. Help community groups exchange character ideas; collect successful strategies in a Book of Character. 14. Arrange for local media coverage of how schools and community groups are promoting character. 15. Ask the local newspaper to run a series of articles, each focused on a particular trait and spotlighting ex-emplary students or other community members. 16. Have the Police Department sponsor a “Do the Right Thing” program honoring young people for acts of good character. 17. Have City Council present certificates to youth and other groups that perform public service; give a spe-cial monthly award to a Person of Character. 18. Challenge all public employees, including candidates for office, to model the Six Pillars. 19. Display the Six Pillars, the CHARACTER COUNTS! logo, and pertinent quotes wherever possible: in the Mayor’s office, City Hall lobby and Council Room; on city buses, trucks, pavilions, parade floats, fair exhibits, and school marquees. 20. Have all computers in city/county offices display the monthly pillar and a quote when employees log on. 21. Ask businesses to display the monthly pillar in their storefronts and in the workplace environment. 22. Use the Pillars as employee performance expectations; ask employers in incorporate the pillars into in-terviews. 23. As mayor, visit schools to support character efforts. 24. Invite a state of U.S. senator or representative to speak at a community event on the importance of good character; get a prominent sports figure to endorse your effort. Invite school and community groups to City Hall to describe their character education efforts; use the community access channel to televise these reports. 25. Create a Teen Council to advise the Mayor and City Council on youth matters. Work with youth to cre-ate a teen center. 26. Work with schools and community agencies to expand students’ opportunities for service learning. 27. To discourage gang membership, seek to involve all middle school students in an after-school club or sport. Teach existing gangs how to resolve conflicts. 28. Ask faith communities to incorporate the traits into sermons and religious instruction. 29. Sponsor a Random Acts of Kindness Week or Month. 30. Create a community Family Resource Center that provides parent education and family counseling; encourage parents to read their children books that build character; provide list of recommended books. Adapted from Dr. Thomas Lickona, Director, Center for the 4th and 5th Rs To top of page
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