Building a Better Workplace: Integrating Character into HR Strategies

In an increasingly competitive business landscape, organizations are not just hunting for the best talent to fill positions, but also seeking individuals who can contribute positively to their company culture. The MIT Sloan report emphasizes that both character and competency should be key considerations in hiring and promotion decisions. It argues that the character attributes of employees fundamentally shape company culture. According to Mary Crossan, a professor of strategic leadership at Western University, a focus on isolated elements of character, such as courage or drive, can lead to a narrow and incomplete understanding of a person. Instead, she advocates for a holistic approach, rooted in science, that encompasses multiple interconnected dimensions.

Crossan introduces the “Leader Character Framework,” which includes 11 character dimensions: judgment, transcendence, drive, collaboration, humanity, humility, integrity, temperance, justice, accountability, and courage. These dimensions provide a comprehensive lens through which to evaluate an individual’s character. Crossan suggests that unstructured, free-flowing interviews are the most effective way to assess these dimensions. Such interviews allow for a more personalized and thorough evaluation of an individual’s character traits, steering away from conventional, rigid assessment methods. By focusing on these character dimensions, businesses can ensure that they are hiring and promoting individuals who will contribute positively to organizational culture.

These character assessments should not be isolated assessments conducted by HR professionals alone. Instead, the assessment process requires observing the interviewer’s own character, identifying clusters of character dimensions, and taking note of the strengths and weaknesses in character development. Promoting employees from within the organization, according to Crossan, sends a strong signal about the character traits that are valued by the leadership. This approach can have a cascading effect on the company culture, significantly influencing it in a positive direction.

The Role of Character in Shaping Organizational Culture

In today’s competitive business world, companies seek employees who excel not only in skills but also in contributing positively to the company culture. The MIT Sloan report highlights that hiring and promotion decisions should consider both character and ability. It notes that employee character deeply influences company culture. Mary Crossan, a strategic leadership professor at Western University, warns against focusing solely on single character traits like courage or drive, as this provides an incomplete view of a person. She proposes a holistic, science-based approach that considers multiple interconnected dimensions.

Crossan presents the "Leader Character Framework," which includes 11 key character dimensions: judgment, transcendence, drive, collaboration, humanity, humility, integrity, temperance, justice, accountability, and courage. These dimensions offer a thorough way to evaluate a person’s character. Crossan recommends unstructured, free-flowing interviews to assess these traits effectively, as they allow for a more personalized and in-depth evaluation than conventional methods. By emphasizing these character dimensions, organizations can hire and promote individuals who will enhance the company culture.

Character assessments should not be the sole responsibility of HR. The process involves recognizing the interviewer’s own character, identifying clusters of traits, and noting strengths and weaknesses in character development. Promoting from within signals the character qualities valued by leadership, which can positively impact company culture and foster a strong, values-driven environment.

Explore more

How Is AI Revolutionizing Email Marketing Strategies?

Setting the Stage for Digital Communication Evolution In today’s hyper-connected digital landscape, businesses send billions of emails daily, yet only a fraction capture attention amid overflowing inboxes, pushing marketers to seek innovative solutions. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a game-changer in transforming email marketing from a generic broadcast tool into a precision-driven strategy. With the ability to analyze vast

How Is Embedded Finance Transforming UK Brand Experiences?

Imagine a world where purchasing a new gadget at a retail store instantly offers tailored financing options right at checkout, or where booking a vacation seamlessly includes travel insurance within the same app. This is the reality shaped by embedded finance, a transformative technology integrating financial services into non-financial platforms. As digital ecosystems continue to dominate consumer interactions in 2025,

Paid Content Marketing Triumphs in the AI Era over Earned Media

In the rapidly changing arena of digital marketing, a profound transformation is reshaping how brands connect with audiences, marking a significant shift in strategy. Once a dominant force, earned media—those organic news features or viral social media moments—has been dethroned as the go-to strategy for growth among businesses, musicians, and creators. Now, paid content marketing has surged to the forefront,

Job Openings Drop in July, Yet Hiring Remains Strong

Overview of the U.S. Labor Market In the heat of summer, as businesses and workers navigate an ever-shifting economic landscape, a striking statistic emerges from the U.S. labor market: job openings have dipped to 7.2 million in July, down from 7.4 million just a month prior, raising eyebrows especially when juxtaposed with the robust hiring figures of 5.3 million for

Trend Analysis: Cooling US Labor Market Dynamics

Introduction In a startling reflection of economic headwinds, US private sector job growth plummeted to a mere 54,000 in August, nearly half of the previous month’s tally of 106,000, signaling a profound slowdown in labor market momentum. This sharp decline arrives at a critical juncture, with economic uncertainty casting a long shadow, policy debates intensifying, and political figures like President