Legacy is built on a foundation of integrity.
A leader must bring a compelling vision. A leader’s integrity and vision inspire confidence and energize people to produce their best. Only then does the leader achieve solid, stable influence within the organization.
Too often, we focus on and applaud a person’s ability to deliver results based on personality, position or, perhaps, by force. Leaders can exert influence without integrity as the stabilizing force. Inevitably, an upside down triangle will topple. The truth is, integrity is the most critical characteristic of an effective leader. Integrity is honest, moral and ethical behavior. It’s understanding your core values and beliefs and living them. It’s consistency.
Leaders must demonstrate integrity in everyday situations. “Little things” indicate lack of integrity. Examples: blowing off a scheduled meeting, forgetting a promise, not demonstrating respect to a subordinate, not listening. When a leader lacks integrity, followers can’t grow or thrive. Subordinates have difficulty believing this person truly cares about them and their development. There’s a cloud of doubt hanging in the atmosphere. It may not be enough to prevent followers from coming to work and reasonably productive, but a leader’s lack of integrity prevents people from being energized, working at their full potential, and developing into effective leaders themselves. Consequently, an individual foundation of integrity becomes essential to rising up other leaders.
The process that produces great leaders entails continuous character development, fine-tuning interpersonal skills, and placing the highest premium on integrity. A truly great leader leaves a legacy of other great leaders.
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