The Dearth of Integrity among Corporate Leaders

As a child in Primary Six, the value of integrity was impressed on me by a class mate and friend, Chinedu Agbam. Being final year students, we had some oversight over other lower classes. One day, while the Class Teacher was out, Chinedu had entered Primary 3 to maintain quietude among the noisy Pupil. He was already back in our class when the School Headmistress called sent for him. It turned out someone has stolen huge parcel of money from the hand bag of that Primary 3 class teacher and Chinedu was fingered as the prime suspect. Members of that class have already being cleared after each student’s school bags were searched. On hearing the allegation, Chinedu busted into hot tears and swore he never went close to the teacher's table not to mention stealing money. 

 Story to the gods!

 Now here is the bone of the matter, our class teacher already vouched for Chinedu’s integrity. The Investigating Panel then asked who his closest friend was and I was sent for. As I walked into the Headmistress office, I saw Chinedu eyes were red with tears. I was asked about what I can say regarding his character and his alleged connection with the missing money. I told them Chinedu was the last person to do such a thing. They asked me why I was so confident in him, I told them Chinedu had influenced me positively and I had chosen him as friend because he seemed so different from the rest of us. I added that I understood his Dad was a Pastor and had apparently instilled some value in him. The teachers looked at themselves and dismissed Chinedu and I. 

 Still not totally convinced, a delegation came to the classroom to ask if peradventure anyone had seen Chinedu holding a parcel of money. The whole class unanimously stood in Chinedu's defense. The teachers then turned their investigation back to the concerned class and by the following day the culprit was paraded at the school Assembly ground. It was the Class Monitor. She had taken the money when no one was watching knowing it wasn't safe in the class; she went outside to hide it under the sand at the back of their class. The teachers had set watch after school, as soon as closing bell rang; the unsuspecting girl went behind the class and was seen by a keen eye from upstairs when she dug out the parcel of money.

 That Chinedu’s experience made a huge impression on me.

 I started my career in marketing but a little over two years, events ensured I moved into sales within the Unilever trade partner settings. The week I moved to sales, a female colleague told me it was impossible to do Van sales at that level without losing money to trade or incurring debt. I thanked her for the head up but told myself that I will be an exemption. Two years or so later, I left that position to Dansa Foods with one of the best records both in terms of sales performance and more importantly with zero personal indebtedness. The only thing being a N103,000 traceable to an identified customers. I mention this because, somehow, I believe this record was one of the factors that made those who brought me back to the Unilever-WAPF setting remember me when that position opened up. 

 That also brings me to occurrences in my current industry - the BTL marketing. Here, it is common practice to work with lots of adhoc team members who participate in projects compensated on daily wages. I am constantly appalled by the gross display of lack of integrity rampantly exhibited by leaders who engage these youngsters in project execution only to end up short-paying them or totally cheating them out on their rights because these youngsters don't usually have the social clout to get back at them.

 As a rule, I believe in the scriptural maxim 'do not muzzle the Ox that thread the Mill.' To deny people who look up to you for managerial leadership their rights; to fail to pay them their labor due; to use them as tools for self-enrichment is the height of dramatizing lack of integrity. A leader should seek the increase and growth of the people he leads.

 An incident transpired in the not-too-distant past that made me shudder in disbelief. I had helped an industry colleague to assembly a team of twenty five adhoc project staff from my pool of Brand Promoters contacts. I had negotiated on my team's behalf.

 He got additional team of ten from another Industry colleague who obviously either was not straight with his team or had failed to negotiate on his team's behalf. Work went well until the last day of the project when payment would be made. Drama ensured when these other two colleague started playing hide and seek; demanding unnecessary compilations of names and signatures after another; and wasting avoidable time over what ought to be straight forward payment. Since I wasn't the one who handled this project directly as I only provided some rental services and helped in assembling the bulk part of the team, I watched the scenes with both amusement and concern.

 Arguments were arising regarding the agreed daily wage, the other industry colleague claimed ignorance while the Project Coordinator tried to cut down on the pre-agreed daily pay. When it became clear something fishy was about to take place, I waded in. It took about four hours for calmness to return after I vehemently insisted everyone who came through me must be paid what I had agreed with the Project Coordinators from the onset. The other team seeing how I had stood up for my people insisted on same treatment and standard used for my team. Now, just imagine what would have happened if I wasn't there that night. The adhoc team members were already threatening fire and brimstone until I stepped in. My people relaxed at that point knowing I hard their back. All those fuss were totally avoidable if folks decide to be straight forward 

 Same related occurrences play out daily in the consumer goods industry were top sales Managers play gods with the benefits and side entitlements of their subordinates. I was a victim of same in a national sales contest in 2010. Also, I have seen and heard stories of promotional materials and prizes meant for the trade being diverted by people who you will expect to be committed to using these provisions to push for their assigned numbers. For me, these practices are inexcusable.

 No matter how talented, rich or educated you are, if the way you treat people doesn't portray integrity, you are empty. Integrity is honouring your word even after discovering it will hurt you. It is making promises thoughtfully knowing you can't renege after it has slipped out of your mouth. It lies at the center of leadership and translates to what makes your people capable of predicting that you will be fair to them after all. Unfortunately, a lot of Managers in corporate setting these day lack integrity which is why someone can victimize another staff because such person isn't in their good books. People are being denied due promotions by human gods.

 Warren Buffet said, and I quote, "in looking for people to hire, look for 3 qualities: integrity, intelligence and energy. If they don't have the first, the other two will kill you." When top leaders lack integrity, anarchy reigns within and below. In such places, expect to find expertly garnished and appetizing human excrement excellently packaged, labeled and branded beautifully for sale to internal and external customers. It is that bad! 

 When next you think of cheating your people, imagine your little children at home are watching you do such an 'honourable' thing. I am afraid even that wouldn't stop some persons. But I did like to ask, will it stop you?