The 3Cs are the measure of a leader. Character, Competence, and Commitment form the core, the anchor, the foundation of any leader.

They can be visualized as a triangle—foundational, connected, and strong. The expectation is each of the 3Cs is positive, uplifting, good, righteous, wholesome, and for the betterment of others.

I have been in a leadership environment since 1985, and in my experience and study, the 3Cs form a ‘must-have’ calculus for every leader. A great leader must exemplify the good qualities and traits of Character, Competence, and Commitment to be successful.

What do people say about you when you’re not around? That’s your character (good or bad). Do you have any street cred? How much? That is your competence.

Do you do your duty, no matter what? That is your commitment. In this project, I do a deep dive into the 3Cs with 60 leaders from the past and the present—including 38 men and 22 women—that each highlight a specific trait, quality, or behavior.

I hope you get as much out of reading and learning about each person and their experiences, as I did in researching and writing this book. We all can learn so much from those that came before us.

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