1 Non-Negotiable Leadership Trait That Is Hard to Find Today
Marcel Schwantes
I help CEOs to overcome complex leadership challenges, driving stronger teams and greater profits.
This is an Inc. Magazine update from the best of my column, read by 1.5 million people monthly. To receive future editions directly, join today.
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Warren Buffett?once wrote this little gem of a statement in one of his annual letters to?Berkshire Hathaway shareholders years back: "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently."
Anyone's?reputation, whole career, or success?can quickly fall like a house of cards, no matter the hard effort made or accolades won over the years. Just ask?the former chief executive of Volkswagen,?who resigned following the embarrassing diesel emissions deception?and cover-up, for which he admitted responsibility. There are numerous examples like this too long for one article.
The non-negotiable trait you want in every leader
Without integrity running through a leader's veins as the source of his or her decision-making process, and without integrity as that individual's internal navigational system guiding him or her through life,?failure is imminent.
In his book,?Uncommon,?Hall of Fame football coach?Tony Dungy?writes that integrity is the "choice between what's convenient, and what's right."
I can't tell you how applicable this is to the role of managers. Working with integrity means that you don't question your character when leading people, especially when the choice isn't easy.
Integrity?means staying true to yourself and your values, even when you're faced with serious consequences for the right choices that you're making, like, perhaps,?losing a job because you wouldn't toe the line and cut corners.
When you reach a place where integrity rules your life and leadership, you'll walk away from doing things that other people would think are "no big deal." But you know better because the short-term gains aren't worth the risk and could derail your career. That's the voice of integrity speaking to the inner chambers of your heart.
Many of us have to make decisions that define who we are when arriving at the difficult crossroads of life and work. For others, it's not so easy; we're still searching?for an understanding of our?true identity, making it challenging to choose what's right with a clear conscience.?
Displaying integrity?in full view
We need to constantly monitor our choices. Reaching that optimum state of integrity where people trust you at your every word requires something not many are willing to do daily:?exposing our values, beliefs, and convictions to?others in close quarters.
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See, when your actions are observed by peers and followers, and you?know?you can?trust?your?own actions out in the open, your reputation is upheld. People never question your decisions or challenge you on an issue that opposes your?character; they know where you stand.
The good news is that we all can turn our past failures and shortcomings into?opportunities to grow our character, develop trust with others, and build leadership capacity to influence people to do great things.
Once we train our brains to operate this way regularly, we'll find the path to making legacies, advancing careers, and ultimately flourishing companies. Integrity should always be non-negotiable. Are you willing to start now?
Your turn: How has integrity (or a lack of it) played out in your workplace? In decision-making? Leave a comment and let's learn from each other
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About Marcel Schwantes
Marcel Schwantes is a global speaker, executive leadership coach, author, podcast host , and syndicated columnist with a worldwide following. Follow him on Substack for articles, videos, leadership strategies, and more.
Guiding Leaders from the Inside Out | Where Inner Clarity Meets Organizational Excellence | Founder, LeaderONE.org
3 个月Great post, Marcel Schwantes In my experience, the reason why integrity is so hard to find is because most of us (97%+) are still stuck in our thinking mind, which prevents us from seeing reality as it truly is. Our ego, conditioning, and past experiences drive us to largely react unconsciously rather than respond consciously. It takes doing the deep inner work to allow stillness and wisdom to emerge in our interactions to escape the shackles of our mind. It's a profound breakthrough when we discover an inner dimension where we can access intelligence, wisdom, and right action beyond the mind, ego, and our conditioning. When we achieve this state of being, what many call self-realization, the great qualities we desire in leaders such as integrity and trust unfold through us effortlessly and more consistently. It's not about doing more, but about being more of who we truly are without the masks and judgments. When we learn how to observe our thoughts and behaviors without judgment, we create space for true transformation that lasts. This inner alignment naturally gives rise to integrity in our leadership and all aspects of life, allowing us to respond consciously from a place of interconnectedness with all beings.
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3 个月Integrity ‘being honest’ and being consistent and uncompromising in upholding strong moral and ethical values is demonstrated by our conduct and how we relate and speak to people (whether its our children, colleagues, friends, family, employees, staff, etc), and our actions when no one is watching. It’s a powerful quality that determines if one is trustworthy, and it plays out in every aspect of one’s life which can mean success or failure in one’s ability to leave a legacy. For me, I demonstrate integrity by my actions. Actions will always speak louder than words.
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3 个月Integrity is hard to find nowadays, I agree, as children we needed parents to show us the way, in modern organizations we need great leaders who are willing to learn each day and (co) workers who feel safe enough to questions every behavior around them, we have to learn to think for ourselves and continually encourage others to do so, a life long journey ??
Manager HR & Admin at Wasco Oil Services Co Nigeria Ltd
3 个月Very informative
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3 个月In reality (in corporate sector), the people with high-quality characters who stick to 'high integrity & stick to the policies of role and company' will be looked as 'not aligned to company culture' & 'misfit to the company' as if he/she is doing completely wrong. Though this topic is widely spread and discussed in wide area calls/meetings, those who are not flexible to give a room on this subject and adhere strictly will be isolated (in this high political corporate game for various positions in the hierarchy). Many practices which are not aligned to this 'Integrity' should not be questioned or raised as an issue since 'those are done that way since long time' or 'change based on convenience rather to follow the ethics and integrity'. I am sure many of you might have encountered these kind of people (especially who wear the title as crown).