Integrity is the ante into the game of real leadership. Integrity is easy to put on a company poster, coffee mug, tee shirt or PowerPoint slide. It's harder to put into practice.
Integrity acts as a moral compass. Just as a ships’ crew used the Sextant to navigate the high seas, leaders use integrity to guide their conduct with others. Integrity is vital for forming and sustaining healthy and profitable professional and personal relationships.
Integrity reflects a person’s true character and is their best friend. The esteemed nineteenth-century American playwright Nathaniel Hawthorne offered this insight: “No man can for any considerable time wear one face to himself and another to the multitude without finally getting bewildered as to which is the true one.”
Anytime you compromise your integrity, you do yourself an incredible amount of damage. That’s because integrity really is your best friend. It will never betray you or put you in a compromising position. It keeps your priorities right. When you’re tempted to take shortcuts, it helps you stay on the right course. When others criticize you unfairly, it helps you keep going and take the high road of not striking back. And when others’ criticism is valid, integrity helps you accept what they say, learn from it and keep growing.
When people around you know that you’re a leader with integrity, they know that you want to influence them because of the opportunity to add value to their lives. They don’t have to worry about your motives.
One of the reasons people struggle with integrity issues is that they tend to look outside themselves to explain any deficiencies in character. But developing and sustaining integrity is an inside job. Psychologist Sheldon Koop asserts, “All the significant battles are waged within self.” Integrity is not determined by circumstances and it is not based on credentials, it is governed by the choices we make. And the choices we make—make us.
Wendell Phillips said, “The price of integrity is everlasting vigilance.”
The following questions can help assess and elevate your level of integrity:
1. Do I consistently treat people that work for me with respect even when I am under pressure?
2. Am I the same person when I’m in the spotlight as I am when I’m alone?
3. Do I tell half-truths because the whole truth is uncomfortable?
4. How well do I treat people from whom I can gain nothing?
5. Do I quickly admit wrongdoing without being pressed to do so?
6. When I have something difficult to say about people, do I talk to them or about them?
7. Do I act consistently in what I say and do?
8. Do I have an unchanging standard for ethical/moral decisions, or do circumstances determine my choices?
9. Do I make difficult decisions, even when they have a personal cost attached to them?
10. Do I seek personal gain above shared gain?
The bottom line when it comes to integrity is that it inspires trust in you. And without trust, you have nothing. Trust is the single most important factor in any relationship. It is the glue that holds people together. And it is the key to being a leader that exerts positive influence on those around them. When you earn people’s trust, you begin to earn their confidence, and that is one of the keys to influence.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower expressed his opinion on the subject this way: “In order to be a leader, a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man must have their confidence. Hence, the supreme quality for a leader is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible.”
Hold On to Your Integrity Under Pressure
Leadership today requires navigating uncertainty, scrutiny, and competing expectations. These three practices can help you maintain your integrity even when conditions keep shifting.
· 1. Focus on being clear rather than sharing every single detail. Talk to your team in ways that make sense to them. Some people want regular updates and chances to share their thoughts, while others just want to know you’ve got things under control. Take your time with important news—don’t rush it. Encourage questions and pay attention to how folks respond when things change. Try to keep your communication on a regular schedule. Be honest about what you know, what you’re not sure about, and when you’ll have more info. When you keep this kind of steady, open communication going, people trust you more—even when things are up in the air.
· 2. Get comfortable with the idea that two things can be true at once. Stick to what you believe in, but be ready to adjust how you get there. Before making a decision, ask yourself if it helps make your purpose clearer or if you’re just reacting to pressure from outside. Think about who will be affected by your choices and whether you’re building or losing trust with the people who matter most. Hold tight to your core values, but stay open to changing your approach as you move forward.
· 3. Help your team bounce back together so no one burns out. Recognize that everyone’s dealing with stress, and make space for honest conversations about it. Try out team routines that support well-being, like sharing how you’re coping, taking breaks together, or leaders showing what healthy boundaries look like. When everyone pitches in to keep the team resilient, you’ll keep spirits up and get good results too.
When people trust you, your level of influence increases. And that’s when you will be able to start impacting their lives. But it’s also the time to be careful because power can be a dangerous thing. As Abraham Lincoln said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test the man’s character, give him power.”
Ultimately, the way you handle influence and power reveals your true integrity. When no one is watching, do you continue to do what’s right? As C.S. Lewis remarked, "Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching."
True leadership is not just about achieving results—it’s about holding fast to your values, being authentic, and building trust, even under pressure. When you lead with integrity, you earn not just the confidence of your team, but also the opportunity to create lasting, positive impact. This is the foundation of genuine leadership and the key to greater success and fulfillment.
C.S. Lewis remarked, "Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching." Click here to read a short story related to Lewis' quote called "Catch of a Lifetime."
Check out a related post: Why Should Anyone Trust You to Lead?
With integrity and lasting impact,
Peter Mclees Leadership
Coach, Trainer and Performance Consultant
SMART DEVELOPMENT
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