INTEGRITY IS THE FOUNDATION OF VISION, PRINCIPLES, AND CHARACTER

Excerpt from THE LEADERSHIP INTEGRITY CHALLENGE

Integrity is the bedrock and the cement of our purpose, principles, and character. It is the willingness and ability to responsibly face whatever is before us. It is from this foundation that we develop our sense of value.

Out of that develops our sense of purpose and vision of what can be. In living our values and moving toward this ideal vision, we become more of who we truly are. Focusing on vision helps us to see possibilities and enables us to plan with purpose and intention. Without the cement of integrity, we are left distracted, unclear about what to do, ineffective in action, and weighed down by negativity.

Our values, purpose, and vision shape our principles. Principles, in this sense, are our self-chosen boundaries of behavior—of what we will and will not do in living our values, maintaining our integrity, and moving toward our vision. They provide the framework for our actions.

In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. —Thomas Jefferson

Our character is the degree to which we adhere to our principles. When we are clear about our values and principles, we can respond rather than react to any situation, including a hostile or

manipulative one. We can play the game without being caught in it. If we are not clear about our values and principles, we tend to react rather than respond. We wind up feeling controlled by external sources and we become a victim of the game rather than a causative creator of the game.

Our character is our destiny. —Socrates

Men of genius are admired; men of wealth are envied; men of power are feared; but only men of character are trusted. —Author unknown

Expediency is often used as justification for violating or ignoring our principles. We may talk of ideals and principles, but if we are not true to them and do not act on them, no matter how much we talk about them, we are not individuals of principle or character. Consequently, we will not move forward in realizing our vision.

There is no substitute for integrity. Without integrity as our bedrock, we have little or no substantive sense of purpose, noble vision, clear principles of behavior, or character. Without integrity, only pretenses of those exist. Without integrity, we feel a void of insufficiency and inadequacy. We attempt to fill that void with substitute status symbols., money, possessions, position, and/or power. This hunger is insatiable. No matter how much we accrue, it will never be enough to fill that void. Episodes of frustration, confusion, pretense, and denial increase. Integrity is the mortar that keeps our ideals, principles, and character in balanced alignment.

What doth it profits a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?  —Jesus of Nazareth