We want colleagues to reflect “good character.” But what does “good character” mean? Start with the three I’s: “integrity, intellect, and inclusion.”

• Integrity. Abigail Van Buren (better known as Dear Abby) once said you could judge a person’s character by how they treat people who can’t do them any good or can’t fight back. Integrity is based on honor—in other words, living by a moral code and acting honestly because it is the right thing to do, not because it makes one look good. A leader with integrity has courage and is one you can trust.
• Intellect. Intellect is the ability to reason and use logic. It can also be described as “street smarts”: knowing how the world works and being able to read people. Leaders need to be able to separate the important from the unimportant to accomplish goals. The Roman senator and orator Cicero said, “It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment.”
• Inclusion. We want to create a workplace where people feel wanted. It is one thing to hire professionals from diverse backgrounds; it is another to provide a proverbial seat at the table. Equity emerges when your workforce and leaders reflect society at large and have the chance to prove themselves.

Character is not only something we want in our colleagues—it’s something we want for ourselves. So keep working at it every day. Observe, read, and reflect. Ask yourself what it means to live with integrity. And be open to embracing ideas and supporting the actions of people different from yourself.

For more advice, read “3 good words of recommendation.”