HAVE PERSONAL INTEGRITY
WHY IT MATTERS
Organizations, partnerships, and relationships are built on integrity, which leads to trust. Integrity is central to the work place. People won’t trust each other unless they can believe each other. Some of the greatest collapses and most poignant disasters in the business world have come because of a breach in personal and organizational integrity. If a leader shows personal integrity their people and stakeholders will trust them enough to let them lead. Trustworthy leaders are given the wheel and are allowed to steer. If leaders don’t have personal integrity they not only risk their and the organization’s success, but they risk putting other people inside and outside their organization in harm’s way through their dishonest and selfish actions.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that have personal integrity place higher value on their trustworthiness than they do on rewards that could be achieved through dishonest means. They follow the rules. They show personal integrity in every situation. They are at their very best when it seems like no one else is watching. They can be counted on to make honest choices. Because of their personal integrity they win the trust of their peers, colleagues, stakeholders, and the organization.
Leaders that have personal integrity do the right thing regardless of the positive or negative consequences. They avoid anything that could be construed as unethical or dishonest. They stay as far away from the edge of perceived impropriety or unethical behavior as possible. No flattery or persuasion can make them sway in their decision to do what is honest, fair, and right. They do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.
Leaders that show personal integrity refuse to stand still and watch others act dishonestly. They weed out unethical and dishonest practices from the organization. They expect people to take the high road in their personal behavior. They are not afraid to hold other people accountable who fail to meet their high standards of integrity.
Leaders that show personal integrity say what they really think without hedging or saying only what people want to hear. They are not people pleasers. They speak up on issues no matter the consequence to them. When discussions turn to unfounded conclusions they speak up and make their thoughts and feelings known.
Leaders that show personal integrity keep confidences. They don’t share their private conversations with other people. They can be trusted with the most sensitive organizational or personal information. If someone shares something important with them in secret they can have perfect confidence that it will be kept a secret.
Leaders that show personal integrity do what they say they will do. They don’t say one thing and do another. They make commitments they know they can keep. They feel their word is their bond.
Leaders that show personal integrity practice what they preach. They never ask others to do things they themselves are unwilling to do. They know that others will judge their integrity by their actions as much or more than by their words.
BELIEFS
SELF-REFLECTION
WORDS OF CAUTION
PSYCHOMETRIC 360 QUESTIONS
Organizations, partnerships, and relationships are built on integrity, which leads to trust. Integrity is central to the work place. People won’t trust each other unless they can believe each other. Some of the greatest collapses and most poignant disasters in the business world have come because of a breach in personal and organizational integrity. If a leader shows personal integrity their people and stakeholders will trust them enough to let them lead. Trustworthy leaders are given the wheel and are allowed to steer. If leaders don’t have personal integrity they not only risk their and the organization’s success, but they risk putting other people inside and outside their organization in harm’s way through their dishonest and selfish actions.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that have personal integrity place higher value on their trustworthiness than they do on rewards that could be achieved through dishonest means. They follow the rules. They show personal integrity in every situation. They are at their very best when it seems like no one else is watching. They can be counted on to make honest choices. Because of their personal integrity they win the trust of their peers, colleagues, stakeholders, and the organization.
Leaders that have personal integrity do the right thing regardless of the positive or negative consequences. They avoid anything that could be construed as unethical or dishonest. They stay as far away from the edge of perceived impropriety or unethical behavior as possible. No flattery or persuasion can make them sway in their decision to do what is honest, fair, and right. They do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.
Leaders that show personal integrity refuse to stand still and watch others act dishonestly. They weed out unethical and dishonest practices from the organization. They expect people to take the high road in their personal behavior. They are not afraid to hold other people accountable who fail to meet their high standards of integrity.
Leaders that show personal integrity say what they really think without hedging or saying only what people want to hear. They are not people pleasers. They speak up on issues no matter the consequence to them. When discussions turn to unfounded conclusions they speak up and make their thoughts and feelings known.
Leaders that show personal integrity keep confidences. They don’t share their private conversations with other people. They can be trusted with the most sensitive organizational or personal information. If someone shares something important with them in secret they can have perfect confidence that it will be kept a secret.
Leaders that show personal integrity do what they say they will do. They don’t say one thing and do another. They make commitments they know they can keep. They feel their word is their bond.
Leaders that show personal integrity practice what they preach. They never ask others to do things they themselves are unwilling to do. They know that others will judge their integrity by their actions as much or more than by their words.
BELIEFS
- The most important time to prove your personal integrity is when no one else is watching.
- Anyone can do what is right when they are under the spotlight. Integrity is about doing what is right when you are alone.
- If other people can’t trust you it will limit what you can someday become. Integrity wins trust, and trust wins opportunities.
- People will follow and take direction from people they trust to do the right thing, not someone they are afraid may be deceitful.
- The moment you cross the line of integrity for personal gain you lose yourself and your ability to lead.
- No price should ever be high enough to persuade you to sacrifice your integrity and act dishonestly.
- If maintaining personal integrity was easy it wouldn’t be so highly valued and sought after.
- People will judge your personal integrity more by what you do than by what you say. Anyone can talk, but real leaders act.
- Be honest in all of your interactions and doings.
- Do the right thing because it is right.
- Be an example of high moral standards.
- Don’t do one thing and say another.
- Be direct and truthful in sharing your views.
- Take a stand on things you care about.
- Do not hedge in sharing your thoughts.
- Be known for practicing what you preach.
- Use allocated resources honestly.
- Confront situations you feel are unethical.
- Take responsibility when things go wrong.
- Keep and maintain confidences.
- Avoid making promises you can’t keep.
- Be fair in all your decisions.
- Honor your promises and commitments.
- Walk the walk, don’t just talk the talk.
- Never let your standards dip.
- Have a set defined set of core values.
- Be candid and open in all your communications.
- Trust other people to do what is right.
- Don’t be influenced by personal gain.
- Don’t do anything that could embarrass you.
SELF-REFLECTION
- Do I place higher value on living up to standards of personal integrity, or do I place higher value on personal gain?
- Do I maintain my integrity in every situation, or do I only maintain it when I know other people are watching?
- Do I make the right decision regardless of the consequences, or do I only make the right decision when there are benefits?
- Do I avoid anything that could be construed as unethical behavior, or do I walk too close to the line?
- Do I work to bring others’ dishonesty into the open, or do I try to stop the dishonest practices of others?
- Do I keep the confidences that others share with me, or do I openly share things that I shouldn’t?
- Do I do the things I say I will do, or do I find an excuse for why I come up short of meeting commitments?
- Do other people see me as someone with high integrity, or do I think they question if they can really trust me?
WORDS OF CAUTION
- Don’t allow your high standards to lead you to feel superior to others whose standards aren’t yet as high.
- Don’t lose your ability to work with others because they see you as overly judgmental and “holier than thou.”
- Don’t be honest to a fault without also being sensitive or you may trigger negative reactions that could be hurtful.
PSYCHOMETRIC 360 QUESTIONS
- If I do something wrong, I take ownership of my mistake.
- I never exaggerate stories I tell others.
- People would say I’m a very ethical person.
- I never gossip about other people.
- I have a very clear view of what is right and what is wrong.
- I do what I think is right, regardless if anyone is watching.