Vocabulary of Character and Leadership Perryman.docx

External goods

superficial, transitory rewards that exist in the world of things rather than in the complex emotional and ethical realm of the self.

Forgiveness

pardon of injuries that releases resentment and bitterness; letting go of a grudge.

Honor

holding oneself to the highest code of conduct; contributing to the wellbeing of the community, and thereby deserving respect.

Curiosity

a strong desire to know or learn something new.

Negative capability

the ability to hold conflicting ideas, feelings, and motivations in oneself without forcing a premature judgment or decision among them.

Wit

the ability to use ones reasoning ability quickly, cleverly, and effectively.

Optimism

the ability to remain hopeful and resourceful in adversity as well as prosperity.

Integrity

wholeness; moral and ethical consistency; showing the same face to everyone.

Courage

determination in the face of pain, risk, grief, fear, defeat, or even death.

Resilience

the ability to "spring back "into shape after being crushed or pressured; the ability to recover quickly or easily from misfortune or shock; robustness; adaptability.

Ethoi

the defining spirit of a community as manifested in its beliefs, habits, and aspirations.

Coordination

the effective inspiration and management of a communitys efforts toward achieving a shared goal.

Honesty

telling the truth and dealing fairly with all.

Generosity

the act of giving more than is necessary or expected.

Justice

giving each his or her due; fair behavior or treatment.

Patience

the ability to wait calmly.

Eudaimonia

the deep, profound happiness and satisfaction that comes from virtuously moving toward ones telos throughout life (see telos defined below)

Wisdom

the power to judge rightly in the face of ambiguity (phronesis); seeing the world as it is, not how it seems to be (sophia)

Flexibility

the ability to adapt to change.

Alienation

the sense of anxiety, isolation, or separation that comes from not feeling at home in ones world.

Modesty

attitude of moderation or humility concerning ones abilities or strengths.

Balance

maintaining a healthy equilibrium by choosing wisely when confronted with conflicting or overlapping responsibilities.

Engagement

full involvement with others in a shared community.

Fortitude

the strength to bear misfortune calmly and patiently.

Sophrosyne [suh fross uh nee]

condition in which a persons reason and drives are in balance, giving each its due and allowing neither to dominate.

Narrative goods

the intrinsic rewards of belonging and direction that come when one tells the honest story about where he comes from, where he is, and where he is going.

Gratitude

appreciation for what we have been given, especially that we did not deserve or create.

Telos

what a being could become if it grew into its fullest self; the as- yet- unrealized- trajectory of ones being.

Sustainability

creation and preservation of the conditions that allow something to continue existing.

Ethics

the study and practice of the repeated behaviors and habits that lead to strong senses of spirit, belonging, and thriving.

Including

allowing, inviting, and encouraging others to join a group or enterprise.

Confidence

self- assurance arising from a sense of certainty about the rightness of ones conduct.

Defining a problem:

setting forth or explaining the essential nature of a difficulty.

Deference

yielding to the skills, judgment, or authority of another person.

Service

tending to the needs of people and our world in a way that promotes, preserves, and enhances their thriving.

Internal goods

intangible and enduring rewards derived from the gradual mastery of complex skills and productive, healthy practices.

Problem solving

purposefully and skillfully addressing needs to guide a solution to successful completion.

Enthusiasm

passionate eagerness in any pursuit.

Vice

a destructive, unsustainable habit, behavior, or quality that inhibits caring and thriving and that therefore harms its host and his community.

Courtesy

polite behavior toward others.

Receptivity

acceptance of something or someone.

Sincerity

meaning what one says.

Virtue

an excellent habit or quality, developed over time, that helps a person to care, to serve, to thrive, and to gain the internal goods that make life purposeful and satisfying.

Discipline

self- control; self- denial; deferring gratification.

Irony

an attitude that recognizes and accepts the incongruities, complexities, and paradoxes of life.

Vivacity

lively and animated participation.

alienation

the sense of anxiety, isolation, or separation that comes from not feeling at home in ones world

balance

maintaining a healthy equilibrium by choosing wisely when confronted with conflicting or overlapping responsibilities

belonging

feeling included, even "at home," because of care received and reciprocated

character

the distinctive personal qualities and habits that direct a persons decisions and future actions

community

a group of people pursuing a common mission in sustainable ways for the good of all of its members

coordination

the effective inspiration and management of a communitys efforts toward achieving a shared goal

curiosity

a strong desire to know or learn something new

ethics

the study and practice of the repeated behaviors and habits that lead to strong senses of spirit, belonging, and thriving

ethoi)

the defining spirit of a community as manifested in its beliefs, habits, and aspirations

engagement

full involvement with others in a shared community

eudaimonia

the deep, profound happiness and satisfaction that comes from virtuously moving toward ones telos throughout life (see telos defined below)

external goods

superficial, transitory rewards that exist in the world of things rather than in the complex emotional and ethical realm of the self

growth mindset

focus on the effort and improvement necessary to overcome challenges rather than on ones ability or performance at a point in time

internal goods

intangible and enduring rewards derived from the gradual mastery of complex skills and productive, healthy practices

leadership

engaging, serving, and coordinating ones communities in ethical and sustainable ways so that those communities move toward their goals; the cultivated habit of understanding the world as your world, for which you have the responsibility of proactive care (see responsibility defined below)

narrative goods

the intrinsic rewards of belonging and direction that come when one tells the honest story about where he comes from, where he is, and where he is going

negative capability

the ability to hold conflicting ideas, feelings, and motivations in oneself without forcing a premature judgment or decision among them

responsibility

the understanding that we must own our actions, that we are liable for their consequences, and that we owe reciprocal care to our communities

service

tending to the needs of people and our world in a way that promotes, preserves, and enhances their thriving

sustainability

creation and preservation of the conditions that allow something to continue existing

synthesizing

creating connections between separate entities in a way that imparts something new and unified

telos

what a being could become if it grew into its fullest self; the as-yet-unrealized-trajectory of ones being

thriving

growing, developing, flourishing; actualizing ones highest potential

vice

a destructive, unsustainable habit, behavior, or quality that inhibits caring and thriving and that therefore harms its host and his community

virtue

an excellent habit or quality, developed over time, that helps a person to care, to serve, to thrive, and to gain the internal goods that make life purposeful and satisfying

amiability

a friendly and pleasant attitude

benevolence

good-will toward all

compassion

caring response to the misfortunes of others

confidence

self-assurance arising from a sense of certainty about the rightness of ones conduct

continence

self-restraint

courage

determination in the face of pain, risk, grief, fear, defeat, or even death

courtesy

polite behavior toward others

deference

yielding to the skills, judgment, or authority of another person

dependability

trustworthiness; reliability

diligence

careful and persistent effort

discipline

self-control; self-denial; deferring gratification

empathy

feeling the experiences of another as though they were ones own

enthusiasm

passionate eagerness in any pursuit

faith

trust or confidence

fidelity

loyal and faithful support

flexibility

the ability to adapt to change

forgiveness

pardon of injuries that releases resentment and bitterness; letting go of a grudge

fortitude

the strength to bear misfortune calmly and patiently

generosity

the act of giving more than is necessary or expected

grace

unmerited forgiveness and favor

gratitude

appreciation for what we have been given, especially that we did not deserve or create

grit

resolve in the face of difficulty; firmness of character; indomitable spirit

honesty

telling the truth and dealing fairly with all

honor

holding oneself to the highest code of conduct; contributing to the wellbeing of the community, and thereby deserving respect

integrity

wholeness; moral and ethical consistency; showing the same face to everyone

intimacy

close familiarity or friendship

irony

an attitude that recognizes and accepts the incongruities, complexities, and paradoxes of life

justice

giving each his or her due; fair behavior or treatment

kindness

selfless help of others