The Triangle of CharacterThe Triangle of Character

Gary L. Patton, Ph.D. LPCGary L. Patton, Ph.D. LPC

If you think about renowned leaders, If you think about renowned leaders, the mention of their names, leads to the mention of their names, leads to

memories of their deeds.memories of their deeds.

We are in essence thinking of their We are in essence thinking of their character.character.

What is this thing called character?What is this thing called character?

Why does it matter about public safety and Why does it matter about public safety and protection?protection?

Words / ActionsWords / Actions

Cognitive ProcessesCognitive Processes

Belief SystemsBelief Systems

Our belief system actually guidesOur belief system actually guides

our our

thoughts, ideas, and behavior.thoughts, ideas, and behavior.

A roll call….A roll call….

Dwight EisenhowerDwight Eisenhower

Colin PowellColin Powell

Idi AminIdi Amin

Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela

Saddam HusseinSaddam Hussein

Billy GrahamBilly Graham

John WoodenJohn Wooden

IntegrityIntegrity

Do the right thing, in the right way, for the Do the right thing, in the right way, for the right amount of time.right amount of time.

CourageCourage

““Courage is when you are scared to death Courage is when you are scared to death and yet you do what you have to do.”and yet you do what you have to do.”

Gen. Omar BradleyGen. Omar Bradley

Courage – cont’dCourage – cont’d

Courage is the greatest virtue because it Courage is the greatest virtue because it allows for all the others.allows for all the others.

DisciplineDiscipline

““The pain of discipline hurts less than the The pain of discipline hurts less than the pain of regret.”pain of regret.”

Traits of First RespondersTraits of First Responders

Need to be in controlNeed to be in control

ObsessiveObsessive

CompulsiveCompulsive

Highly motivatedHighly motivated

Action orientedAction oriented

Traits – cont’dTraits – cont’dHigh need for stimulationHigh need for stimulationNeed for immediate gratificationNeed for immediate gratificationEasily boredEasily boredRisk takersRisk takersHighly dedicatedHighly dedicatedNeed to be neededNeed to be needed

Source: Source: ICISFICISF

Jim Gunnels, Special Agent, Jim Gunnels, Special Agent, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE)Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE)

How can these fit into a sense of response How can these fit into a sense of response to disaster and a sense of justice?to disaster and a sense of justice?

There are obviously some things in that list There are obviously some things in that list that can essentially go either way in terms that can essentially go either way in terms

of outcomes.of outcomes.

Do you want an obsessive, easily bored Do you want an obsessive, easily bored person who likes to take risks babysitting person who likes to take risks babysitting

your children?your children?

Probably not , however…Probably not , however…

Do you want an obsessive, easily bored, Do you want an obsessive, easily bored, highly motivated, highly dedicated highly motivated, highly dedicated

((disciplineddisciplined) person who is willing to take ) person who is willing to take risks who is known for impeccable integrity risks who is known for impeccable integrity

taking care of your children?taking care of your children?

A reminder of our time in history…..A reminder of our time in history…..

The wisdom of Allan GreenspanThe wisdom of Allan Greenspan

Former Chairman of the Federal ReserveFormer Chairman of the Federal Reserve

He observed a very basic and yet haunting He observed a very basic and yet haunting point…..point…..

““The common ingredient in all disasters, The common ingredient in all disasters, emergencies, and crisis….emergencies, and crisis….

is that something was unanticipated.”is that something was unanticipated.”

ExamplesExamples

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

9-119-11

School shootingsSchool shootings

The Unanticipated…The Unanticipated…

The good guys have to guess ahead of the The good guys have to guess ahead of the bad guys.bad guys.

Once something happens, we often hear, Once something happens, we often hear, “nobody thought of this”.“nobody thought of this”.

An example: An example:

CASVE Model of Decision CASVE Model of Decision MakingMaking

Comes from the field of career planning.Comes from the field of career planning.

Is an adaptable model for planning and Is an adaptable model for planning and triage.triage.

CommunicationCommunication

Execution AnalysisExecution Analysis

Valuing SynthesisValuing Synthesis

Communication (Identify a gap)Communication (Identify a gap)

Analysis (Interrelating problem Analysis (Interrelating problem components)components)

Synthesis (Creating likely alternatives)Synthesis (Creating likely alternatives)

Valuing (Prioritizing alternatives)Valuing (Prioritizing alternatives)

Execution (Forming means-end strategies)Execution (Forming means-end strategies)

Critical Thinking SkillsCritical Thinking Skills

Critical = EvaluativeCritical = Evaluative

Minimize risksMinimize risks

Maximize gainsMaximize gains

Assess a situation for outcomesAssess a situation for outcomes

Work from a principle to an issueWork from a principle to an issue

Work from an issue to a principleWork from an issue to a principle

Thinking is often casual and informal, Thinking is often casual and informal, whereas critical thinking deliberately whereas critical thinking deliberately

evaluates the quality of thinking. evaluates the quality of thinking.

In productive In productive problem solvingproblem solving you generate you generate ideas (by creativity) and evaluate ideas (by ideas (by creativity) and evaluate ideas (by

criticality).  criticality). 

Critical Thinking and CharacterCritical Thinking and Character

Linda Elder and Richard Paul in Linda Elder and Richard Paul in

Valuable Intellectual TraitsValuable Intellectual Traits, describe the , describe the traits of:traits of:

- courage- courage

- integrity- integrity

- perseverance (discipline)- perseverance (discipline)

as intrical to critical thinking.as intrical to critical thinking.

A Point In PlanningA Point In Planning

““Whatever does not get resolved gets Whatever does not get resolved gets repeated.”repeated.”

InspirationInspiration

““Inspiration is helping to believe that they Inspiration is helping to believe that they can do that which they previously believed can do that which they previously believed

themselves unable to do.”themselves unable to do.”

Gen. Joshua Lawrence ChamberlainGen. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Two things to keep in mind when Two things to keep in mind when delegating and hiringdelegating and hiring

1.1. Hire for attitude and train for skills.Hire for attitude and train for skills.

2. The “why” influences the “how”.2. The “why” influences the “how”.

IntegrityIntegrity

Accepting responsibilityAccepting responsibility

No excuses and managing reasonsNo excuses and managing reasons

Upholding justiceUpholding justice

Forgetting about perfection and pursuing Forgetting about perfection and pursuing excellenceexcellence

DisciplineDiscipline

Training a little harderTraining a little harder

The easy day was yesterdayThe easy day was yesterday

Do all you can do, and then do one moreDo all you can do, and then do one more