How Great Leaders Practise Integrity Daily
Ashutosh Sharma
Vice President HR and CHRO - Bio Energy Business, Reliance Industries Ltd | Author | Brain-Based Coach | DCE | UCLA
What would you do as a leader of a company if due to a typo error in your brochure, an item originally priced at $199 appears at a heavily discounted price of $99 – drawing a swarm of customers to buy this item? Probably, you’d apologize for the mistake and sell the item at the original price. Right?
Many would not even realize that this is an ethical dilemma. But, in early 1990s, Bon Marche in Seattle saw it clearly when a typo in their 72 page sales catalog mentioned the price of a Sony CD player as $99, when they really wanted to mention $179. Guess what Bon did? They sold all the players in stock for $99 and took order for another 4000 at the same price. If this is not a perfect example of integrity, then what is?
People often think that Integrity is only about following laws and rules prescribed in corporate governance policies of their company. And that, as long as they don’t indulge in misappropriations or unlawful, immoral, and illegal activities, they are maintaining their integrity. If only, it was that simple! The problem with this approach is that integrity is treated like a delicate vase to be handled cautiously rather than as a gyroscope that provides inner stability.
The problem with this approach is that integrity is treated like a delicate vase to be handled cautiously rather than as a gyroscope that provides inner stability.
For a leader, the fine line of integrity has to be treaded every day, in each moment.
Integrity means that:
- You do what you say – unless you are doing more. It does not mean being stubborn – it means being "Reliable" and "Trustworthy".
- Whatever you say comes from a "Sense of Conviction". You don't say things to avoid facing a conflict or to avoid a responsibility.
- You keep your word. And when you can't, you invariably let the affected people know in advance.
- You are "Equitable" to your people. You don't have favorites. It means that you have objective and transparent criteria for rewarding your team. No one gets a preferential treatment because of personal reasons. You create an environment of meritocracy.
- You tell the truth. It doesn't mean being caustic or ruthlessly direct. It means having the "Courage" to own up what you think and intend to do
Consultant L&OD
8 å¹´Nicely written Ashutosh!!! It is also a quality which cannot be typically graded on a scale of 1 to 10,like any other quality. It is either there or not there.
Very very impressive writing Ashutosh ! Completely agree with every word you said . Integrity is when one can look eye to eye , when one see's himself/ herself in mirror -" with conviction, confidence and courage ". Very powerful term expressed very simply !