Three Reasons Why Integrity Still Matters To Leaders

in·teg·ri·ty

/inˈteɡrədē/:

noun

1. the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.

2. the state of being whole and undivided.

Integrity is about being honest and adhering to strong moral principles. For leaders, this means making decisions that align with your core values, even when faced with challenges. But in our world of succeeding at all costs, why does integrity matter? Can’t we just follow the money to the success we envision? Here are three reasons integrity still matters to you as a leader:

The first reason integrity still matters because being true to your core values keeps you from being at war with yourself. When outward circumstances cause you to compromise on these values, they can lead to conflict within yourself. Living in conflict with your values is stressful enough to keep you awake at night and exhausted during the day. The pressure of being at war with your values will tax you physically, mentally and spiritually, and impact your ability to make sound decisions.

The second reason integrity matters is because it is the place from which effective leaders govern. Like spreadsheets and performance reports, integrity is also data that guides how we view challenge, opportunities and each other. The inner soundness created by living in accordance with your core values keeps you free to view leadership challenges as opportunities for growth rather than people or situations to 'win'. We talk in organizational circles about "win-win" solutions. Leaders who chose to lead from their safe place of core values and principles are able to thoughtfully deploy the strength of their teams to bring about solutions that benefit the organization. The leader who operates in integrity understands that there won't always be agreement about the 'how', but he or she is able to position the 'what and why' to build a cohesive team.

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The third reason integrity still matters to leaders is because we live in a world in conflict and your integrity will help you identify solutions. Everywhere we look there is disagreement organizationally, locally, nationally and internationally. Conflicts within individuals often explode into conflicts at work and among teams.I said it before, but again for emphasis,  We will not always agree! Situations will arise in the office or in life, that will tempt you to ignore your values in favor of what may be more convenient. You may get drawn into a battle where you feel you must "pick a side." Opportunities to compromise by ignoring red flags in a direction you would really like to go, will present themselves.  As a leader, what will you choose to do?

Staying mindful of your core values and how you live them will determine your response to the conflict within and around you, and help you maintain the perspective of a leader who can be trusted in chaotic times.

Michele Aikens is CEO of Clear Sight Coaching & Consulting Inc. She enjoys conversations with leaders, especially around tables. Does your leadership need a roundtable discussion? To schedule one, connect with her here.