Actions and Habits Reveal True Character

A note to young leaders.

In assessing character, place less emphasis on words, more on actions.

Better still, place maximum emphasis on those actions that are practised consistently – daily routines and weekly habits.

I once heard Matthew Hayden, the former Australian opening batsman, being interviewed during an era when Australia dominated the sport:

“People accuse us of being cocky and arrogant, but we are in fact the most humble team in international cricket, because we train the hardest. Especially fielding practice, we practise fielding for longer than any other team.”

Steve Waugh’s team, in word, may have appeared cocky and complacent. But in action, they showed themselves hungry and humble.

Words are easy to fake, actions less so – but routines and habits spring from a team’s self-identity and are almost impossible to fake.