Alison Jones, an industrial psychologist, leadership transformation strategist, and author of “Character Leadership,” discusses her approach to cultivating character in today’s leaders. 

She emphasizes leading from the inside out, focusing on integrity, purpose, and serving others over ego-driven leadership. She also shares insights on the five essential states of leadership—awareness, acceptance, abundance, authenticity, and appreciation—and her SMART model for managing remote and hybrid work. 

Additionally, she highlights the importance of intentionality, authenticity, and courage in leadership, and shares a powerful story from her volunteer trip to Zimbabwe.

Key Takeaways

[01:42] Alison shares her excitement about getting a testimonial from Joe Theismann, a former NFL quarterback she admired. Then she briefly touches on Theisman’s career-ending injury, and reveals her deep love for elephants and her involvement in conservation efforts, a passion her sister pointed out through her home’s elephant-themed decor.

[05:05] Alison describes character-driven leadership as leading authentically from within, prioritizing integrity, purpose, and serving others. While leadership varies by individual, she emphasizes that strong character is essential for sustainable, positive leadership.

[09:19] She outlines five key leadership traits: Awareness, Acceptance, Abundance, Authenticity, and Appreciation. She said that these traits foster character-driven leadership by focusing on personal growth, integrity, and gratitude. To shift from scarcity to abundance, she recommends creating a safe environment where leaders can take risks and learn from mistakes.

[14:59] She discusses three leadership states: victim, where life happens “to” you; victor, where things happen “by” you with a focus on personal success; and vessel, the ideal state, where leaders act as channels for positive impact, using their talents to serve others selflessly.

[18:47] Alison shares her SMART model for remote work includes creating a dedicated workspace (Space), prioritizing exercise (Movement), engaging in social activities (Activities), maintaining healthy eating and hydration (Refrigerator), and managing time with clear work hours and breaks (Time).

[25:35] She contends that bonuses don’t guarantee employee happiness or engagement, and effective leadership rooted in character is crucial for genuine productivity and retention. With high disengagement rates and turnover costs, she notes that employees increasingly prioritize mental health and work-life balance over financial incentives.

[28:24] She shares that she went on a volunteer trip to Zimbabwe in 2018, where she experienced the leadership of Bright during a bushfire. Despite the danger, Bright led the volunteers to fight the fire, earning her deep trust and admiration through his integrity and vision, and that event profoundly impacted her view on leadership.

[36:30] Closing quote: Remember, “A great hallmark of mental wellness is the ability to be in the present moment, fully and with no thoughts of being elsewhere.” —  Wayne Dyer

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The Leadership Podcast is sponsored by W.S. Darley & Company.  

Founded in 1908, Darley remains a family owned and operated business, providing the highest quality equipment solutions to our country’s warfighters and firefighters.  

Learn more at darley.com and darleydefense.com

Quotable Quotes

Resources Mentioned

• The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com
• Sponsored by | www.darley.com
• Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com
• Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com
• Alison Jones LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/alison-c-jones
• Alison Jones Website | wellnesssocietyus.com