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​Integrity

​​​​​​​LEADING WITH CHARACTER!
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​​​“The wind might cause a kite to rise, but what keeps it up there is the fact that somebody on the ground has a steady hand. You have to hold steady to your values - your integrity. It's your anchor. You let go of that - well, it isn't long before your kite comes crashing down.”

Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen 

Listen to Story 1.​ 
​                                                  Introduction

Integrity in a leader is reflected by a devotion to values that the leader constantly tries to communicate to those whom he or she leads. The leader with integrity can rarely if ever relax the commitment to what he or she believes is the behavior that best reflects those closely held values. When followers see leaders acting with integrity, they are likely to emulate that quality. 

Integrity is a cornerstone of leadership. It is, perhaps, the only thing that no one can take from us. They can take our lives; they can take our savings; they can take our property; they can take just about everything we have, but the one thing no one can take from us is our integrity, our honor. We have to voluntarily give that up. 

We’re the owners of our integrity. (And some people sell it awfully cheap.) The single most important quality that we can ever possess, and that will enhance every part of our lives, is the value of integrity. Integrity is the foundation of our character. 

Integrity 

Integrity means following our moral or ethical convictions and doing the right thing in all circumstances, even if no one is watching us. Having integrity means that we are true to ourselves and that we would do nothing that demeans or dishonors us. 

It all starts with the leader. If we, as leaders, can’t: 1. Define our Values, 2. Talk our Talk, and 3. Walk our Walk on the values to which we aspire, then it matters not what the rest of the team is doing, because it is the leader who sets the tone. 

Define Our Values - A personal value system is a set of principles or ideals that drive and/or guide our behavior. Our personal value system gives us structure and purpose by helping us determine what is meaningful and important to us. It helps us express who we are and what we stand for.

If we are unaware of, or become disconnected from our values, we end up making choices out of impulse or instant gratification rather than on solid reasoning and responsible decision-making.

Our values define our character. They impact every aspect of our lives including: our personal and professional behaviors, our interactions with other members of our team, our decision-making processes, and the overall quality of our lives. That is why it is so important to know what we value, why we value it, and what priority we give it in our lives.

No matter what values we choose to live by, it is vital that we look at the big picture, assess what we want our role to be, and map out how we intend to conduct our lives to satisfy the values we have chosen.

Listen to Story 2. 

Talk Our Talk - In all areas of our lives, doing the right thing for the right reason is paramount. While we hope we are judged by the content of our character and by what’s in our heart before anything else, in the ever-expanding world of communications, what we say and how we say it can have significant consequences. 

In many of our interactions in life, talk may seem cheap, but using the right words in the right way can often translate to a better atmosphere of trust and loyalty within our team. 

Whom do we know who speaks with integrity? As we ponder the answer to that question, consider this: Ethical behavior in speaking is as important as any other action we take (or fail to take) that demonstrates integrity. These days trust and credibility can be lost in a moment of thoughtlessness, in an ill-considered choice of words.

Once we stop to examine the impact that language has on integrity, an important question looms: If we are out of integrity with language, can we be in integrity anywhere else in our lives? If we are unable to speak honestly and kindly to ourselves, will we speak honestly and kindly to others? If we are unable to keep our word to ourselves, will it be possible for us to do it for anyone else? 

Listen to Story 3. 

Walk Our Walk - to do the things that one says one will do. As the saying goes, “if you're going to talk the talk, you've got to walk the walk”. This is really a modern version of old sayings like “actions speak louder than words” and “practice what you preach.” Another early form of the expression was “walk it like you talk it.” 

Saying what we could do, or would do, is not just making empty promises. We are expected to do things consistent with what we claim. Failing to match behavior with talk results in loss of credibility and trust. 

In displaying integrity, we must do what we promised, in the way we promised, and at the time we promised to do so. If we are not able to keep our word, we should communicate this eventuality immediately, not wait until it's too late for other appropriate action to be taken. 

Many people see integrity as an aspiration, not as a necessity. But we must understand there will be no trust in any relationship without integrity. Values are based on natural laws and if we take nature as an example, we can see that there exist no shortcuts. We reap what we sow, always. There is no exception to that. We might cheat on a system, but never on a natural law. 

Listen to Story 4. 

Conclusion 

Integrity is one of the top attributes of a great leader. It is a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations and outcomes. It connotes a deep commitment to do the right thing for the right reason, regardless of the circumstances. 

If we sow honesty, we will reap trust.
If we sow goodness, we will reap friends.
If we sow humility, we will reap greatness.
If we sow hard work, we will reap success.

Listen to Story 5​.

“Walk with honor, character, and integrity in all that you do. Do these things and you will find that you can appreciate the adventure of life and live with greater ease.”

Shawn L. Anderson