Integrity Matters.
Integrity matters in growing a business both in terms of leadership and culture. High performing teams realize force multiplication by trusting and relying upon each other. Of course, the leadership team sets the tone. Leaders who engage in promise-breaking or act in a self-centered manner cannot hope to see trust, honesty and equitable treatment become touchstones of their company culture. They, above all others, must show discipline to resist the self-interest to ignore duty.
“Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.” – Spencer Johnson
The word “integrity” all too often is causally bandied about by those simply and boldly asserting that they in fact are practicing it. Make no mistake about it, integrity must be practiced and continually improved. Your integrity is tested in the form of decisions large and small throughout the day.
Integrity Is Skill In Avoiding Excuses.
Promise-breaking is the nemesis of integrity. Unfortunately, it is broadly permitted in today’s business culture. Therefore, self awareness is a critical tool in your integrity toolbox. We must have the discipline (and willingness) to ask ourselves “Am I committing a transgression of integrity that I would otherwise criticize others for?” If we believe integrity matters, we must let down our guard and resist the temptation to let ourselves off easily with one of these common excuse traps…
- I am different, I am the boss
- I didn’t have time
- It’s only a white-lite / they’ll never know
Little Things Matter.
Early in my career I worked for a mid-western CEO whose values and high integrity shaped my approach to business. Every year our company would attend an industry awards banquet. We were a small player and working ourselves out of a turn-around situation so we had never received any awards but we attended along with our key customers and distribution partners just the same.
One year we finally broke through and introduced a runaway product. We were nominated for a prestigious award and my boss, the CEO, was invited to sit with the industry heavyweights at one of the “power tables.”
I know he very badly wanted to join the heavy hitters at the power table and enjoy some recognition for all that we had achieved under his leadership. However, he told us at our staff meeting we would all continue to sit together as a team with the same group of customers and colleagues that had stood by us from our rise from turnaround to success. His statement still resonates with me today “You dance with the one who you brought you.” This relatively small gesture of personal sacrifice left an impression on me – integrity matters.
Light The Match And Watch A Glorious Fire Spread
In my experience, high integrity individuals are like a magnets in an organization. They draw in colleagues who want to work for/with them and those folks are motivated to go the extra mile to do well for them. This scenario is emblematic of a high functioning team. Imagine this force pulsing through your entire organization!
You can practice a self integrity check today with this little cheat sheet.
- When I make a promise, I will keep it.
- My word is my bond and I will protect it vigorously
- I am willing to make sacrifices to do what is right
- Truth, honesty and fairness is more important than getting ahead
- I won’t make excuses
- I won’t look at decisions solely through the lens of “what’s in it for me?”
Integrity…You CAN Take It With You
Expensive cars, vacations abroad and second homes are among the well known hallmarks of success..the financial dimension of success that is. But how successful have you truly been if your partners or colleagues don’t respect you? Integrity matters in growing a business. Consider an expanded mission. One whereby you not only meet your financial goals but one in which you make good on your commitments, show empathy and help others to do the same. Remember, reputation and legacy are forever. When you do retire, will you be remembered as in terms of your great financial success or or a leader who that set an example of high integrity? Shoot for both!
