Integrity in Leadership: Why Doing What Works Matters Most
Photo taken by Marlene Clark
Acting with integrity in leadership can include the simple practice of “doing what works.”
I like to think of integrity as a boat; either it works or it doesn’t. There is no moral judgment involved. In effective leadership development, integrity isn’t about being right or wrong — it’s about alignment and what truly works. If the boat’s got you, then you can relax, knowing you are being held. You can be highly productive and get from one point to another. Or you can use the opportunity to enjoy just being on the water. (Wow... maybe even take a nap.)
However, If your boat has a hole, you’ve got to spend time and energy bailing out water. This does not allow for getting very far very fast. It certainly doesn’t provide a relaxing environment in which to just be. And eventually, you’ll have to figure out how to plug the hole. This is where acknowledging our mistakes and cleaning things up comes in handy.
A while back, my husband, Craig, mentioned that I must really enjoy fixing things. A few years ago, we engaged a fabulous company, HOMEPOINT, who are essential partners in maintaining the integrity of your home. At some point, we had two guys here working on things all day, and I had fun geeking out with them.
My answer to Craig:
“I used to think I liked to fix things. Now I realize I just like to have things work.”
It doesn’t have to be me who does the fixing. I can see how this relates closely to my core value of EXCELLENCE. When your actions are consistent with your deeply rooted core, then you are acting with integrity — and strengthening trust through ethical leadership. You are being true to who you are, and to what you expect from yourself and others.
The thing I have to watch out for is thinking I have cornered the market on doing the right thing the right way.
How do you define “doing the right thing?” It seems like there is more value in asking ourselves the question than in the answer itself. And as I’m now well into my sixth decade of living on planet Earth, I notice my answer has changed over time. For me, at this point, it boils down to…
Being true to oneself...
...And being accountable for our impact on others in the process. When we are true to our core selves, we no longer suffer. This can, in turn, reduce the suffering of those around us. When we take leadership accountability for having our actions be in integrity with our core values, things just work — both for ourselves and those we lead.
For more about how to define your core values and to explore what integrity means to you, please visit our website. Oh, and here’s a list of my core values:
Love
Excellence
Fairness
Appreciation
Honesty
Authenticity
Enjoy this day my friend,
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Fundamental of the Week #22: DEMONSTRATE URGENCY IN RESPONSE TIME AND FOLLOW-UP
Model enthusiasm in your response to issues and rigor in your follow-up. Keep people updated, and make sure they are clear about your communications.
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