"The
supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real
success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football
field, in an army, or in an office.” – Dwight D Eisenhower
“Honesty
and integrity are by far the most important assets of an entrepreneur.”
– Zig Ziglar
When I
think of honor and integrity as valued personality and character traits of a
leader, I do not simply refer to sincerity or honesty. Integrity’s essence is
derived from the root definitions: entireness, wholeness, soundness. Honor as
it is added to integrity extends through the inner core and wholeness of the
character of the individual and the organization. It is found in small matters
as well as great; for the allegiance of the soul to truth is tested by small
things rather than by those which are more important. These are the building
stones to which a person rises out of mediocre living to mighty influence
throughout the world.
We think
that we hate the lack of honor and integrity when we are only hating the
consequences resulting in the absence of honor and integrity. We resent
hypocrisy, negligent ethics, treachery and deception, not because they are
untrue, but because they harm us and harm the culture around us. We hate the
falseness of fake integrity, but we are half pleased with the false praise. It
is evidently not the element of untruth here that is displeasing, but the
element of harmfulness. Thus, the only genuine response is a deep commitment to
honor, integrity and higher standards which are often the harder road and more often
underappreciated, but the consequential outcome rises to greatness.
Diligence
and hard work in maintaining honor and integrity as it relates to our personal
lives, as well as to the organizations we serve, produces great success to
which every participant gains a proud legacy. These personality traits find
root with the leader. It is essential for leaders of our homes, organizations,
and corporations to frame honor and integrity around every endeavor of life.
These individuals produce a dynamic culture which anticipates honor and
integrity in everyone. I agree with Amy Lyman when she writes: “When a
trustworthy leader acts with humility, is respectful of others and uses the
power of his position and his personal power to benefit others, then he is
honorable. And his integrity to those qualities is admirable.”[1]
The perception is paradoxical, but the reality is everyone benefits and the
person leading the charge establishes a “wholeness” and “completeness” legacy.
Within a
world where compromise is the norm, fake news is in many conversations, social
media produces one-line rants, and families are seeking genuine authenticity;
the world is also passionately pleading for honor and integrity. We must recoil
from the deceptions of sensational and easy paths. It is our task to strive for
greatness as leaders who fight vigorously for honor and integrity while
rejecting untruth as untruth: who resents the smooth and polished falsehood of
society which does no immediate harm, but deceives the excellence of life. We
must respond to the plea with credibility, respect, and fairness. It is then we
will be known as leaders who possessed the valued personality traits of honor
and integrity.
You know I love ya, Don
[1].
Amy Lyman, PhD. “Leading with Honor and Integrity.” The Trustworthy Leader, 12
Nov. 2012, http://www.trustworthyleader.org/eng/Blog/8_Leading-with-Honor-and-Integrity.html.
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