Character Champions in Namibia

This seminar is designed specifically for CF champions who plan to do CF implementation in organisations.

16 Champions in Namibia have been trained and special thanks for Sanet and Derrick who have organised this

• Expectations from the founder Tom Hill of Character First in Oklahoma
• Overall Vision for Africa
• Character First growth the last 12 months
• Doing the Character First self assessments, CF coaching
• Overview of CF programs day one and day two*
• Case studies (Metro Police, Vital Health, Barloworld, George Hospital, Clanwilliam High School, Ghana and Nigeria)
• Media opportunities, success stories with Radio Tygerberg 104 magazine
• Do’s and Don’ts of Implementation
• The Power of Breakfast sessions
• Project management skills and business case thinking
• Application: Business, Families, Education
• Facilitating the changes and follow up
• Monthly Character First directed work team discussions
• The new challenges and budgets and financial model
• Code of Ethics and non disclosure agreements
• The next steps


Thirty three people have been trained also in the Basic seminar
See feedback from one of the delegates

ANC condemns Malema's behaviour

The ANC "strongly condemned" its youth league president Julius Malema treatment of a BBC journalist. "The aggressive and insultive (sic) behaviour to the said journalist that culminated with Mr Fisher walking out of the Youth League press briefing cannot be condoned at all," said spokesperson Jackson Mthembu.

Reflected negatively on ANC "The unfortunate outburst by Comrade Juluis Malema not only reflect negatively on him, but also reflected negatively on the ANC YL, the entire ANC family, our alliance partners as well as South Africa in the eyes of the international community."
Malema called BBC journalist, Jonah Fisher, a "bastard" and an "agent" before booting him out of the media briefing. Leadership "We are of a firm view that this matter could have been handled differently.
"The leadership abilities and qualities of the position that Comrade Juluis Malema holds, should have prepared him to deal with the issue in a manner that demonstrated leadership," Mthembu said. But how do you treat this matter differently?

Let me start: Character is the qualities built into an individual’s life that determines his or her response, regardless of circumstances and it springs from the heart. The true test for character is always our response to the pressure of difficult situations. Wrong actions and attitudes damage relationships and it is important to deal with the inner attitude. When apologising, you have to look for a change of heart not only regret. Regret means that you are sorry but you do not change. A change of heart means that you change your mind and you want to restore the relationship.
An appeal to the conscience is a sure way of correcting someone as you than ask if your actions was truthful, punctual, wise, and exercising self- control

For more on dealing with the inner attitude see our website www.charcterfirst.co.za

Developing leaders for the future

INTERNATIONAL LECTURES: Dr Mario Denton recently traveled to Germany, Namibia and Ghana to present lectures about HR and Character First. All the lectures were enthusiastically received, with positive feedback and invitations to return with more.

This elective happen at Leipzig during the first week in April.
The primary outcome of this elective in HR is to help participants to:

• Develop an integrated and comprehensive understanding of the field of Human Resource Management.

• Equip participants with fundamental, critical and analytical diagnostic expertise to enable them to analyze, understand and apply complex trends in the area of HR and to apply theoretical HR concepts with a view to solving relevant HR problems in their respective workplaces.

• Draw up a comprehensive HR support plan incorporating all the significant facets of HR.

Character First Sabco Coca Cola

Character First! helps people see the value of good character, so they can build better workplaces and communities. We have received great feedback from a group of delegates and would like to share with you regarding their experience:

Hi Mario, I hope you are fine. I wanted to share with you some key developments since your training in PE. I must confess that the character first message is very REAL for most people I have exposed it to. You can hear a pin drop during some of the management meetings I have addressed to introduce the concept. Many managers have embraced it well that I continuously get information on how people have been recognized. The Management team continues to use the character first examples while addressing employees. It is now common to hear employees refer to character issues as they discuss any people issues. At our annual long service awards – this month, the management team decided to recognize the MD for having the character of Decisiveness.

Character First in Malawi

Untitled from Desmond Denton on Vimeo.

Malawi is among the world's least developed and most densely populated countries. The economy is heavily based in agriculture, with a largely rural population.

Powerful testimonial from Tanzania

We would be to share with you the wonderful experiences delegates have with the Character First programmes. We would like to thank all of the delegates who have attended the Character First programmes and are passionately making the difference where they are. We are truly witnessing significant progress and are truly thankful to all involved. Below follows a powerful feedback all the way from the beautiful country of Tanzania.

Dear Mario, Trust you have arrived home safe. Many thanks for the briliant presentation thisafternoon. I have had very good feedback from delegates and you have real addedvalue to all of us. The Managing Director of CRDB Bank said it clearly overdinner - that if we addressed the character issue first, the rest will fall into place.

 

I am looking forward to working with you in the near future. All the very best Dave Kahwa Founder, President & CEO EQUIP GRC TANZANIA

More than clean water? Character First for a selected group of the City of Cape Town -Water and Sanitation

It was absolutely wonderful to train nearly 100 Character First champions from the Water and Sanitation department. We have trained the Director and his senior team and also showed a short DVD of the director’s message during the first opening session.

I fully agree with the following statement where Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, in an interview in the McKinsey Quarterly, illustrated the need for character training when he said the following:


“We are struggling ourselves, as a new democracy in South Africa, to restore values … Values are never a given. They have got to be developed, worked upon, and consolidated on an ongoing basis. Because if at any given time we as a society or as sections of society become complacent about them, we run the risk of losing them…. We are therefore duty bound to try at all times to bring to the fore the values that bring us together as fellow South Africans, as human beings, united in our diversity.”

Instilling the Character First qualities into each employee must be a passion for each manager. God knew the importance of instilling values. In Deuteronomy 6:6-7 He said, "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." If you want your Character First qualities embraced by staff, share them regularly and creatively

View director's message

CHARACTER FIRST INTERVIEW CAPE TOWN from Desmond Denton on Vimeo.


View Character Discussion

Character First training Cape Town Water and Sanitation from Desmond Denton on Vimeo.

Character and ethics: a group of BP staff in Johannesburg makes Character meaningful

To promote change you need people that are serious about instilling the change. It’s less about merely solving the problems- It is about a shift in priorities to keep the sustainable momentum of positive growth and character alive.

My suggestions to this team during the training were the following:


1.Establish a character-based culture in your environment.
2.Train all managers and supervisors and equip them with the character tools and bulletins. Encourage each person to take his character bulletin home.
3.Be an example of character and do the 49 character qualities assessment in your team and department twice a year.
4.Focus on one character quality per month. Hold character application sessions.
5.Get rid of employee of the month recognition schemes and recognize each employee once per year based on one of the 49 Character qualities.
6.Publicly recognise good character with genuine praise. It is one thing to talk about being an Character, it is another to actually take action on a plan to develop ourselves and others as authentic leaders.

When we see others finding their "True Character North", it helps us to see ours.

Character First! Institute in Oklahoma

I was privileged to recently be able to spend two days with the folk from Character First! in Oklahoma to discuss our needs and plans for the future. What a great team!

It was so good to hear what they are doing after the restructuring over the past year.

While at the Character Institute, I repeated my presentation, “Building and sustaining a Character-based authentic culture” which I gave in Tucson, Arizona during the FCCI Conference. I also discussed the progress that Character First! has made in organisations and countries here in Africa.

I recently received a very encouraging letter from a person in Uganda who has been encouraged by the Character First! materials. When I receive letters like this, I realise that we cannot ignore the challenge to spread the message of character in our great continent. I have included the letter below, for your encouragement.

Character training in Nigeria

Nigeria is a massive country of almost 100 million people comprising 250 ethnic groups speaking 4000 dialects. In size, it is more than two and half times the size of California. The diversity of Nigeria is reflected in its rainbow of creeds and complexions, views and counterviews, stretching from the fringes of the desert in the North to the Atlantic waters in the South.

We have been involved in taking Character First into Nigeria and initiate the implementation of it within Church groups as well as business implementation groups.

Character First implementation like never before!

On my flight back from the USA, I reflected on the future of Character First! here in Africa as well as what I was going to do with the newly acquired information. I have one serious request at this time: I am trusting God for 100 committed, passionate Character First! ambassadors that we can train as Character First! coordinators and leaders. 


Character truly matters- In our organistions, our families and our nation.
See the example of Coca Cola's training and how they made Character training matter in the organisation. Custom designed Character Bulletins for their organisation.  Customised banners and bulletins can be made and this emphasize the importance of the training to the rest of the company.

If you would like to get involved, please send me an email to mario@crown.org.za or contact our office at +21 979 3198 right now for further details. Additional information can also be obtained by visiting www.characterfirst.co.za

Character First Conversation- Cape Town Water and Sanitation training

Character First training Cape Town Water and Sanitation from Desmond Denton on Vimeo.

Lecturing In Ghana

We have done now the basic overview plus the advance seminar in Ghana
Overview of Programme Day Two: Advanced Implementation Topics

Communicating the standard: Learn how to emphasis character in your organisation polices

Hiring For Character: Develop character based hiring practices to find the right person for each position

How to make an appeal: Work through the differences of opinion by making an effective appeal
Character Based correction: Get to the heart of problems instead of dealing with surface issues

CHARACTER FIRST HIGHLIGHTS

A school in Kyalitsha has asked us to get involved with teacher training.

Other CF training include the session with 28 staff from Spectacle World

read more about the latest Character First highlights

Creativity

Think outside of the Box from Desmond Denton on Vimeo.

Why Character First is Different?

Character First Sybrand from Desmond Denton on Vimeo.

Character First Metro Pledge

This training in the Metro Police is still going strong.
Thanks for all the dedication and commitment from the Metro Police officers, and for the insight and things also that we have learnt so far.


Character First Metro Police South Africa from Desmond Denton on Vimeo.
The pledge has been facilitated, filmed and edited by Strong Message

After doing Character First at the Metro Police I have completed the following short articles.

Your walk talks and your talk talks but your walk talks louder than your talk talks
Character-based correction: the Reitz in all of us
Covert your corporate souls
Character First: the real stimulus package that will sustain business at all times
Corporate repentance
The true battle ahead
Shoot to kill policy

These articles are on the Character First Resources on the website

Strong Messages From the metro police

Metro Police Strong Messages from Desmond Denton on Vimeo.
This video is inspired, facilitated and produced by Strong Message

Character First Africa Milestones within the Metro Police

Executive overview
In this report we want to focus on the Character First progress with the Metro Police and to give an overview of the highlights in establishing a solid character-based culture  in the Metro Police.
1. Lets start with some background
Character First Awareness training Pilot Discussion Group
This was a presentation for a small group as we have decided to orientate an awareness group first. This was a morning session for certain senior officials as we have agreed that this will be the vital link to coordinate the roll out. The focus on this training was about the following:
The history of Character First/ ethics training as development tool
Why the need for character First in Business, cities and communities
The 49 qualities
The next steps for implementation and roll out


Below are some of the delegates from the Western Cape Metro Police during the awareness presentation 

2. The purpose of the intervention 

The two days interventions were spelled out as follows: 

Delivering the actual two day interactive process with the emphasis on the following within a policing environment: 

Breakdown of Character versus Ethical Climate in Policing

Integration of good character qualities in Policing environment

Defining ethics in policing environment

The role of Character in building positive community relations

Character based correction and standards

Dealing with character based recognition

Integrate the theoretical knowledge with practical outcomes

Improve ethical climate within law enforcement content 

The true test of character is our reactions to the pressure of difficult situations and it is what we do when we think no one will ever know. Building character in the workplace will definitely help with the following

Enhances morale and personal relationships

Improves quality

Develops relationships

Lowers costs due to accidents

Cultivates supplier relationships

Increases productivity

Stephen Covey said it so beautifully. I’m convinced that 90% of failures in life are character failures, not ability failures

I personally believe we must stop employee of the month way of doing recognition and replace it by recognizing each and every employee on a regular basis publicly for recognizing good character. Remember Character is not your personality, it is not religion. It is an inner sense of right and wrong. Character is modeled and built on a moment-by-moment basis by the decisions we make. Hire, promote and even discipline according to good character and competence. Strive for a balance between the two aspects 

3. Milestones reached so far

We open the course every time by asking the following question

What challenges are you facing in Metro Police right now? 

The answers were clear and very similar every time. Looking at those challenges in the workplace it is clear to me that we are facing the same challenges and that it is caused by similar root causes. My concern is that programs, rules and regulations alone will not solve these problems. Good character is the inward motivation to do what is right, according to the highest standards of behaviour in every situation

What I like about Character First as industrial psychologist is that good character transcends age, position, financial status, race religion, education, gender and personality. It springs from the heart. You see the true test of character is our reactions to the pressure of difficult situations and it is what we do when we think no one will ever know

August 2009: We have trained also in August our first group from Western Metro Police as well as making a video pledge on Justice with the delegates. You can watch this video on www.crown and click on marketplace. Afterwards we received the following letter of the coordinator. 

   

Dear Mario

It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that SGT. Comba who was on your Ethics course has been shot and killed. The pledge video that you made has become very valuable to his colleagues and family.

I will speak to on Monday about the next roll out dates.

Kind regards

Bradley Lackay

Other groups have also been trained and in total 123staff have attended the training

This training in the Metro Police is still going strong and so far 123 staff members have been trained in the skills of implementing Character First

Training participants in handling a character first certificate presentation

4. The way forward: Sustainability 

We have now reached a critical stage in the project as it is now all about sustainability We are therefore recommend the following action plans

1. Our first recommendation will be that we take the senior staff through the same training as they need to uphold the application of good character within the Metro Police. A small team have to be nominated for taking the accountability to the next level

2. Discussion on monthly basis one character Quality.  Putting people on a course like this is only one facet of character based culture training and development. Class room training must be supported by what happened during the rest of the day week and month. Quality bulletins reinforce each quality character as each bulletin provide information. The questions in each bulletin is vital and make a huge difference. This will help that everyone in organisation understands the priority given in developing a character based culture within the organisation. 

3. Recognizing the opportunity to publicly recognizing employees for solid character 

Train more senior team in a one day facilitation session the nuts and bolts

4. Circulate bulletins to all staff. This is a must and will keep the process alive and will be w wonderful resources for staff to apply this wherever they are 

5. Must be part of HR practices like including this as part of hiring, performance  management and dealing and correcting correction as well as self assessments during the year and even during team building sessions. A character based culture assessment is also available

5. Summary

In a nutshell: I want to congratulate Metro Police for taking the first steps in developing a character Based culture. You are definitely on the right track and we urge you to keep up the pace. Also my personal thanks for Bradley Lackay (Senior Superintendent Quality Assurance and Skills Development Training and Development Safety and Security /Metropolitan Police Academy ) and his team with all the arrangements re the logistics 

The experiences that I have picked up during personally training these 123 delegates are the same if I compare it with the words of other participants who have completed the character training also

Dr Johann Oostenbrink, Camino Consultancy (Specialising in Organisational Development).

Character First seminars opened my eyes to the fact that character determines your destiny. That is true for individuals as well as organisations, companies and work-teams. Together the basic and advanced seminars provided me with tools, not only to develop character in individuals but also to build organisations that are character-based in all they do, whether it is strategising, decision-making, marketing, client-service or hiring, trust-building, motivating and disciplining

Minette Oelshig from Bundi Adventures

Character First stimulates introspection as well as provides the tools and knowledge to implement and develop the incredibly important value of strong character traits. It is beneficial to any organisation, family, or individual. It challenges you to be better and changes the way you look at individuals.

Wiehann van Zyl

Character First has been packaged in such a way that it appeals to the everyday world. Opposed to normal performance appraisals, Character First provides a means of measuring performance at an intrinsic or personal level. It is value based, uplifting the person and achievement.  CF is not a management style, it is an investment in the life of your employees.  

.Toby Brouwer: Executive Director. Beautiful Gate International

Thanks again for the great seminar. I just spoke to our executive director of Beautiful Gate in Lesotho and he tells me they also did you’re course at the beginning of the year in Jburg and they are currently busy implementing this into their organization. I recommend this course to everyone who is passionate about people and people development. Seeing godly character being develop in people so that organizations are being transformed from the inside out through sound practice based on godly principles.

Bernadine de Winnaar: Human Resources Manager Vital Health Foods

Thank you for the brilliant programme and two days of pure inspiration.  We are excited about implementing character first and are hoping that we would not only touch the minds but also the heart of individuals.  I believe that this would impact positively in the workplace but also have a ripple effect on the relationships at home and in the community.  We would be able to built better and stronger families and communities.  You cannot walk away from Character first without being touched and inspired to change!

Wendy Groenewald form Vital Health Foods

Thank you for such an interesting and informative couple of days. I really look forward to implementing CF at Vital as it could make such a tremendous difference not only to the Company itself, but to the lives and families of those who work here. We fail to recognise the soft issues are our current performance management system and CF will put this right.

CONTACT

Be someone who operates on the leading edge of Character development in your workplace.

Contact us for a deeper discussion of the design of these innovative, turning point and high impact character development events to enhance your individual, team and organisational character performance and productivity.

Regards from Dr Mario Denton 

Let's network.. 

Website:  www.characterfirst.co.za 

By e-mail:  mario@crown.org.za