Tools for Improvement – An E-Newsletter
May 2012
Leading With Integrity
Some people focus on who a leader is and some focus on what a leader does.  What a leader does represents their accomplishments, sometimes regardless of their methods.  Who a leader is shifts the focus to their method, do they demonstrate integrity in their actions? Integrity is a quality that gives definition to our careers and lives. Yet over our careers, we often focus our efforts on acquiring more, increasing our expertise in our given field, getting the corner office and winning that next promotion. While these are all important, leading with integrity–by example and adhering to a set of values and standards–is even more important.

Integrity comes from the Latin integras, meaning “wholeness”. Integrity–acting as a whole. Webster defines it as 1) soundness, 2) adherence to a code of values: utter sincerity, honesty, candor and 3) completeness. To many, it’s the measure of a person’s character.  I have heard integrity described as doing the right thing when no one is watching.

As former President Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “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 …read more