The Top 5 Things Leaders Without Integrity Don't Do
What is integrity?
"The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness."
"Integrity means being honest and having strong moral principles. A person with integrity behaves ethically and does the right thing, even behind closed doors."
Given the global events around us, it can be confusing to us as to why certain leaders aren't stepping up.
We need leaders to step up right now more than ever.
Here are five things leaders fail to do when out of integrity.
Doing the "right" thing.
Keeping communication consistent from person to person.
Owning up to where they went wrong outside of closed doors and into the open.
Taking too long to take action.
Assuming things will go away on their own eventually.
I often hear things like, you can't have morals in business because you won't make any money.
Or, people over profit doesn't exist. It's profit over people.
What I learned this year was that I don't want to be a part of places that don't take care of one another, even when they claim that they do, even when their branding is fantastic, even when their mission statement is attractive, even when they claim certain things to people.
I know there is so much work to do around this, and I know that in some of the companies I support, whether it's as simple as purchasing a t-shirt or attending a Leafs game, there are so many levels and people involved in each output. I need to educate myself more to see what the impacts are of these organizations on people and the environment.
In the meantime, my recent experience in Chicago led me to a place I thought would be safe. It wasn't. It was many things for me.
I found loopholes in their program. I saw the games being played. I saw the lack of trust and transparency. I saw a lack of follow-through. I saw a lack of accountability and responsibility. I heard things through the grapevine that didn't align with what I was hearing. I experienced inappropriate behaviours, and they were dismissed because "This is the way it is."
No, it's not the way it is. We are trying to change the world; using that language won't get you far.
Leaders and humans in general need to act more with integrity if we ever want to get to a place of positive change, peace, understanding, respect, and harmony.
When we act in ways that are out of integrity, the impact can linger forever, and sometimes, it can't be repaired.
Integrity life lessons:
Do the right thing even if it will negatively impact your bottom line. It will serve you tenfold in the future. That could mean incorporating consequences to people's actions.
Keep communication and messaging consistent; don't change your perspective from person to person. People will not trust you because people talk.
If there is a mistake, regardless of how small or big, own up to it and use it as a lesson for how you are going to be better to and with everyone involved. Open it up beyond those who got caught in the misfire.
When a mistake happens or you sense something is off, don't take too long to start damage control. Use your voice. Take action. Find out what is going on quickly so that as many assumptions can be squashed as possible.
Listen to people. Hear people. These are two different things, and they are not the same. What must you incorporate based on what is being said and heard across the borders? Go beyond saving face.
If you are feeling ready to implement serious changes within the current systems in your organization or community, keep following me for more!
This is my specialty, and not always for the faint of heart.
Sonia Grossi, CPCC, ACC, CMP
#integrity #lifelessons #challenge #ChangeMatters #StatusQuo