Integrity: Life energy of leadership

Systemic ethical problems have been the bane of many companies. That rhetorical question: “where does character fit into our work ethics?”

However, there is even a greater dimension to integrity that is, the “make-up”’ or that dimension of the leader in the workplace that seriously impacts results or performance. This is the interpersonal skill that makes strategic abilities and initiatives effective and worth the hard work at the end of the day.

Can the leader “capture” the full hearts of the employees he is leading. Does he make team members feel valued and willingly want to give all their best? Can he build trust with his colleagues and also make sure they can trust him in return? Can he regain broken trust or repair relationship? Can he build trust through mutually beneficial connection and engagement?

In his day-to-day activities, the leader must be able to gain the complete trust of the people he is leading? Does he know the blind spots, weaknesses and challenges in himself, the people he is leading, customers, opportunities, the market he is operating in and other external realities that can stand in the way of achievement of goals?

Can he transcend his own interests and submit totally to the larger purpose of the company? Is he creating, the desired growth in himself, his people and the company? How is he coping with difficult employee’s negative attitudes, occasional failures, setbacks and losses?

Dennis Beausijour Vice President (marketing) Procter and Gamble noted “integrity help leaders to know that their character development is essential to their effectiveness.” According to Jim Keyes, President, 7-Eleven Incorporation: “Success in business is about trust, having the courage to face own weaknesses and to better those around us.” He added that strength of character or integrity is the only source of sustainable results and should therefore be practiced as a very valuable approach by everyone in leadership positions. Integrity makes “terrific leaders to draw on and improve their best traits.

It is worthy of note that who the leader is, will be ultimately determined if the talents, competencies, skills, efforts, opportunities and other abilities of employees are well utilized.

Moral and ethics definitely secure and guarantee the success of businesses but we must also, always check the wholesomeness of leaders. Are they “complete” and able to secure and guarantee the well-being of the people they lead?

Dr. Henry Cloud, clinical psychologist and leadership coach pointed out that the leader must have the discipline to confront brutal facts of his realities. He must walk the talk and not have a fixed view of himself. He must own-up to his faults and admit when he is wrong. He must be ready to adopt inputs that challenge his views and must possess adequate skills to confront and deal with situations.

According to Dr. Cloud: “The leader who seeks reality about himself will have the courage to embrace the reality he finds.” He adds that “we must be in touch with what is, not what we wish things were or think things should be or be led by others to believe they are. The only thing that is going to be real in the end is, what is.”

Leaders must always appreciate the fact that the consequences of deceit are greater than telling the truth. We must, at all times, be in touch with reality in getting results, solving problems and ensuring excellent performance.

In business and in the workplace, integrity is the critical life energy leaders need for constructive pursuit of values that are sustainable. It is the number one characteristic that employees want from their leaders. When a leader courageously faces his weaknesses, he will be better appreciated by his employees because a person with integrity has the ability to pull everything together and to make all happen, no matter how challenging the circumstances may be.

Integrity guarantees business leadership. It is an exciting growth path that we should engage in. It makes us live an authentic life and a critical determinant of effectiveness.

Let us briefly examine the other dimension of integrity; the steadfast adherence to strict moral and ethical codes such as honesty, uprightness and rectitude.

Integrity has strengths. It helps productivity and ensures progress, success and accomplishments. Integrity empowers team members to “accountably”, play their parts and thereby create unified strengths. When integrity is at work, employees go above and beyond their roles and this helps the company thrive.

Integrity is evolutionary and therefore ensures meaningful daily work regime with ethical standards as the basic moral ground rules. Employees execute their tasks by the rules, obey company laws, honest in behaviour and speech, look out for the company’s best interests and show respect for customers and colleagues.

The workplace benefits tremendously when integrity is “present” and suffers, when it is not. Integrity of character works day-to-day in the workplace and ensures more profits. It brings better results, solves persistent problems that have turned to patterns, enables talents and abilities to blossom and bring out desirable results.

It creates and maintains trust as well as engages negative realities and solves them. It is a sure vehicle for growth and increase. Companies surpass limits and deliver excellent results whenever there is a positive shift in our character make-up. Integrity impacts every employee physically, emotionally and career-wise. When trust is built, communication is more effective.

Leaders should lead by example and make sure every employee understands the company’s ethical codes and policies. Employee should also be free to discuss ethical issues in the workplace without fear of reprisals.

We should build a culture of integrity in our workplaces.

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