Integrity in Leadership: The Make or Break

Integrity in leadership is absolutely essential. If you had nothing else, having strict integrity alone makes you notches above everyone else.

In today’s world, more and more companies are looking for individuals with integrity to head their organizations.

I mean, look at the financial turmoil that is happening in the world today. Isn’t it because of a lack of integrity that all these things have happened?

But if you’re a man of great integrity, you can be sure of one thing; you’ll go somewhere in life. In fact, Grenville Kleiser said, “You are already of consequence in the world if you are known as a man of strict integrity”

That’s how essential integrity is in your personal life. More so in leadership.

"The supreme quality for 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 David Eisenhower

I agree with Dwight D Eishenhower; I cannot emphasize enough about the important of having integrity if you want to see leadership success in your life.

Integrity gives you so much as a leader; credibility, trust, confidence, influence and more, that you cannot afford not to have it.

So then:

What is integrity?

“Integrity is what we do, what we say, and what we say we do” – Don Gater

Don Gater sums it all up pretty well in that short statement. As a man of integrity, your word is your bond.

Your yes is a yes and your no, a no. Your word is as a good as gold. The moment it leaves your mouth, you are bound by the words that you just spoke.

Yes, it’s a hard thing to do sometimes. Sometimes circumstances make you inclined to forgo what you just said because it is the path of least resistance.

You would choose to forgo what you said earlier because now the cost of fulfilling that promise has increased now.

One example, you promised your family that you’ll be there for the thanksgiving dinner; but at the last minute your boss calls in and tells you that he wants the project done by tomorrow morning. What would you do?

Keeping your integrity means that you would tell your boss that you cannot because you have an important family dinner you have to attend and you have already promised your wife and kids; but it might mean that your boss will look upon you in a bad light.

But having that reputation is more precious than anything else. Businesses are willing to pay a premium to do business with you; companies are willing to pay big bucks just to have you on their team.

Simply because you’re a man who can be trusted.

It means that when you say you’ll be there at a certain time; you are there. You reach your appointments on time and you are never late for them.

I like what one of my friends actually said, “To be early is to be on time, and to be on time is to be late.”

Well said.

It takes a lifetime to build a reputation of integrity; it is indeed a hard won achievement and those who get there are men who are admired and sought after.

As a leader, seek to build such a reputation of unquestionable integrity that people would even trust you with their lives!

This quality alone will bring you farther than any of the others would!