Acting with integrity is part of gaining trust and credibility. You can be sure that situations will arise where we have conflicting desires, and our integrity will be tested. When you have integrity you have nothing to hide and nothing to fear.
As a leader, you must live by higher standards. Your personal responsibility grows right along with the responsibility of your leadership. Too many leaders today are quick to blame or abdicate their responsibility. They put more effort into their image than their integrity. Yet when we put more effort into our integrity, our image is far more credible and sustainable.
It takes courage to uphold your standards, but as a leader, people watch your behavior closely. They want to know if they can trust and respect you. They are looking for examples that you are honest and true to your word. We all change our minds when we get more information, and everyone is wrong at some point. It’s at those moments that it’s most important to be transparent. They know when you’re not.
Integrity is an inside-out endeavor. It comes from self-discipline, trust in yourself, and the courage to be relentlessly honest in every situation. And it’s critical for effective leadership.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ACTION PLAN
What standards do you want to uphold as a leader?
How will you maintain your integrity?
“Integrity has no need of rules.”
~ Albert Camus
