7. The Most Important Quality of a Leader – Integrity

“The supreme quality of leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office — Dwight D Eisenhower”

Integrity means living it myself before leading others. We cannot lead anyone else further than we have been ourselves. Too many times we are so concerned about the product we try to shorten the process. There are no shortcuts when integrity is involved. Eventually, the truth will always be exposed. Integrity helps a leader to earn the trust of followers. The followers expect four things from their leaders; honesty, competence, vision, and inspiration.

Billy Graham said, “Integrity is the glue that holds our way of life together. We must constantly strive to keep our integrity intact. When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when the character is lost, all is lost.”

How Important is Integrity in Leadership?

People with integrity have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. Integrity appears at or near the top of every list of desirable leadership traits: In fact, a survey by Robert Half Management Resources found that integrity ranked as the most important characteristic for both frontline employees and C-suite leaders. So, why is it difficult? And what does it take to lead with integrity? The answer is, that it’s not as easy as you thought it is, and that’s the challenge. We all have a general understanding, of how to define “integrity” and, we all have different perspectives on what integrity looks like in practice, but one person’s integrity is another person’s being a sellout. You can’t lead or live with integrity or expect others to do so if you can’t clearly define it. For many people, integrity is synonymous with ethics. But integrity is about more than ethics! A computer program has integrity when it does what it’s designed to do without errors. A building has integrity when its construction meets all the required standards. Leaders who display integrity get the respect of their peers. They are unafraid of the truth and fight for what they believe in. As a result, you’ll have more devoted consumers, higher revenues, and a better world for everyone. Let’s understand the seven C’s of integrity-driven leadership.

1. Clarity: Individuals who act with integrity are clear on their values, belief, and priorities. And like a fine gemstone, light shined on this person isn’t scattered or diffused by impurities and inconsistency. Clarity of purpose and principles are evident in every action decision and communication
2. Constancy: Faithfulness, fidelity, stability, steadfast and unwavering are the words that define the person who possesses constancy. Like, she is unwavering in her dedication. He’s steadfast in his belief. They’re faithful to the commitments and promises that they make. There’s a fine line between constancy and rigidity. Constancy and by connection integrity don’t shackle you to a set of beliefs forever. It does require a thoughtful examination to determine the truth.
3. Consistency: This is closely tied to constancy. Consistency transforms belief into action. The constancy of our beliefs is demonstrated in the consistency of our actions. Consistency promotes trust and provides a sense of stability for others.
4. Congruence: Congruence in geometry means that the two objects are roughly of the same shape and size. Congruency in leadership means there is consistency between what we feel on the inside and do on the outside. This takes the concept of consistency to a much deeper level. You can be consistent without being congruent, but you can’t be congruent without being consistent.
5. Commitment: Commitment requires a promise and an involvement. The person of integrity commits or pledges to act in a specific manner. And that promise obligates involvement. Commitment is perseverance with a goal in mind. In the face of adversity and challenges, commitment is what keeps you going. Leaders must assess their commitment to the people they lead and to their mission on a regular basis.
6. Courage: Courage is the willingness to face or deal with anything that is dangerous, difficult, or painful, rather than avoiding it by making another choice. From a physical sense, it’s an example of a fight or fight decision. The implication holds true for moral perspective, too. The leader of integrity faces and makes the difficult choice even when the outcome could be painful or unpopular.
7. Concern: Concern when used as a verb means to show interest or regard for a person or thing. Its opposite is indifference. The concern is the sound moral principal aspect of integrity-driven leadership. It’s the ethical part of the definition of integrity. Integrity-driven leaders are connected with understanding and doing what’s right. Concern also requires considering others’ interests rather than a sole devotion to your own.

Leading and living with integrity means being accountable to yourself. It also means considering the implication of your action and decision on others, both ethically, morally, and then physically. It takes being clear, constant, and consistent in the belief and values for which you stand. Integrity means that there’s a congruence between your internal beliefs and external actions. And it means that you have the courage to do what’s right, even when it’s not convenient or when no one else is looking. There are no several-step programs for leading with integrity, it’s an ongoing quest. There are three main areas on which you should focus today.

1. Tell yourself the truth. We deny the truth, distort reality, and delude ourselves into thinking we’re better than we are. And the cure is simple the continuous search for and acknowledgement of truth and reality. Talk openly and often about the importance of trust to remaining nimble and relevant in your marketplace. Most important, be honest about areas where you aren’t acting with complete integrity in your organization’s products, services, and relationships. Remember, the truth is the victim when we value the illusion of success. Integrity-driven leaders focus on what’s real.

2. Make better choices.

a) Does your course of action seem logical responsible and legal?

b) Would the results be beneficial for all if everyone made the same decision?

c) Where will your plan of action lead? What are the potential unintended consequences? How will it affect others?

d) Will you think well of yourself when you look back at what you’ve done even if the results are optimum?

e) How would the person you most admire handle the situation?

f) What would your friends, family, and those you admire think about your decisions? How would you feel when it shows up on the front page of the newspaper or in your social media feed?

g) The final big area is to value Relationships. All great leaders create focus with clear goals and high expectations. They expect results and they ensure effective execution of well-designed strategies.

Integrity-driven leaders simply approach responsibilities from a different perspective. Their power comes from trust, rather than fear. You lead in a world where trust, competence, and credibility are unfortunately in short supply. Leadership is the ability to influence the actions and outcomes of others in a way that delivers positive results. Integrity is crucial and often ignore element for sustaining a nimble organization that can flourish in any environment.

This real-life story happened when Ram worked in a large company for many years. He maintained a good relationship with his boss, who himself loved and respected Ram very much. Ram always completed his work and met deadlines. At the encouragement of his boss, Ram even took on extra projects. Thanks to his tenacity and the help of his boss, Ram was able to move his family — his wife Sita, and children into a new apartment and was also able to help his brother, Bharath, pay for college tuition at an international school. But strategy struck when the company’s CEO, Ram’s boss, passed away. Fortunately, he had a daughter, Kausalya, who was able to step into her father’s position with relative ease. On her first day of work, the woman called Ram to her office and made an unexpected proposal; “Mr. Ram, my father cherished you very much. I know that you are very responsible and hardworking. That’s why I want to offer you a new position. You can earn twice as much money now with it!” “Of Course,” Ram was more eager than accepted the offer. “But there is a catch, you and I alone will be managing the company’s assets and revenue.” “So, we’re going to have to steal from employees?” Ram asked. You can say that Kausalya Confirmed before adding. “Now go on, you have a lot to think about, and I need an answer from you by tomorrow. And remember this; refuse me, and you lose your job,” she threatened. Ram Plunged into heavy thoughts on the one hand as he didn’t want to steal bread from colleagues. He simply could not do it, and on the other hand, he did not know what his family would say. After all, they can be left completely without money. In frustration, Ram returned home. There he met his wife, children, and brother Lakshman. Upon learning of what had happened, Mr. Ram’s brother pondered, they are your colleagues who have helped you out many times. Even though they have families to feed. Are you ready to steal money from them? And Sita said, “It’s ok I am a teacher by education. I will go to work at the school again. Besides, you are a good specialist and also find a job in no time. And Lakshman will help.” She finished as Ram’s brother Lakshman nodded his head in agreement. Ram let out of sigh of relief, saying, “thank you for supporting me. Together we’ll find an answer!” The next day Ram confidently entered Kausalya’s office. “Glad you agreed,” the woman began, but Ram interrupted her and said, “I’m sorry, but I’m quitting. I’m not going to steal money from my colleagues.” Ram expected his new boss to scream or kick him out, but no, quite the opposite. She smiled broadly and exclaimed, “Check passed, and then explained. The head of the department was supposed to be the most honest person who loved his colleagues, so, I arranged a survey among all the employees, who all pointed to you as the only one among all of them who chose to sacrifice wellbeing for the sake of colleagues. Therefore, you become the head of the department, Congratulations!” Hard work, honesty, and responsibility will always be rewarded even if you do not immediately notice it.

Ram has the opportunity to earn more money with the agreement of his new boss’s offer, instead, he took the way of honesty and integrity, the responsibility he decided to quit his existing job. With his actions, he was promoted to head of the department. When you are doing right even when no one is watching you will get the biggest reward in return and earn the enormous trust of followers.

This learning is taken from the book “The Ultimate Leadership in You” by Sreekanth Ganeshi. This book is available in Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/bKrWjqG

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