Let’s dive into the second part of our discussion of integrity. Today, we will look at some practical leadership methods for building integrity.
We couldn’t publish this last week because we had to attend to other issues.
If you’ve not read the first part, kindly do so here.
“Integrity is like a hidden network of iron frames that strengthen our character and person as leaders.”
Integrity is among the scarcest commodities in the world of leadership because it’s essentially a hidden feature.
It doesn’t reflect in our degrees, suits, clothes or how we walk or speak.
Just like a ship, it may look beautiful on the outside and have all that makes it a ship on the outside, but what makes it a ship is its ability to float, hold weight and stand the storms, and that ability is not in its visible design, but its haul’s integrity.
A paper ship is beautiful to behold at the dock, but it can’t float. That’s the way integrity is for leaders.
Many leaders appear to be intelligent and attractive on the surface, but when confronted with challenges such as compromise, deceit, and temptation, they often falter.
Serious leaders must cultivate strong integrity as a fundamental part of their character when preparing for any leadership role.
The world requires more leaders who possess integrity. We may think it celebrates leaders who can lie, compromise, twist, and cut corners. What we don’t know is that leaders with poor integrity are actually the ones who don’t last.
The ones who stand on integrity, no matter what, even if it would cost their lives, are the ones who are celebrated and respected. They are the ones people naturally want to follow with all their hearts, and they will leave lasting legacies.
How Can We Build Integrity As Leaders?
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
Coach John Wooden.
Lack of integrity is like a hidden virus in the software of leaders.
It gradually and slowly corrupts.
You may not know it, and you may think that you’re getting away with cutting corners and compromising until a day comes when the rottenness is exposed. By that time, you can’t do anything about it again.
The first step in building integrity as leaders is to understand the importance of leadership.
Who Are You, And What Kind Of Leader Do You Want To Be?
Ask yourself this question—who are you, and what kind of leader do you want to be?
When I started leading, I decided to be the leader who was at peace with myself first.
What does this mean? It means that I will never do anything that takes my peace away.
I wanted my integrity to be intact and solid. And as I matured, I kept doing intentional checks.
Checking my leadership engine.
Changing worn-out parts, oils, water and whatever needs changing and upgrading.
I ensured I was true to myself when I found a fault. I dealt with that fault until I settled it. And I still live by these principles.
Once I observe a weakness, I acknowledge it and deal with it until I solve it.
Leaders must be able to tell themselves the truth.
If you’ve got a problem with handling money, don’t just ignore it. Seek help and deal with it.
If you discover a tendency hiding in you that can undermine your leadership efforts, don’t leave it unattended.
Deal with it. Eliminate it before it eliminates you!
One problem most leaders have is that they are actually enjoying the hidden things they are doing.
That tiny hole you’ve created to steal may be enjoyable now.
That illicit relationship may be sweet now.
That tweak you’ve made to your product or service may be allowing you to deceive customers and investors now until a time comes when it shall be exposed—and that time will always come.
So, determine in your heart the type or kind of leader you want to become from the get-go! And pursue that image with all your strength.
Have The Right Mentor
Follow the right person or people. If a goat is born with lions and lives with them, with time, it will begin to behave like a lion, even if it’s not one. Those we look up to can significantly affect our lives as leaders.
If someone you call a mentor lacks integrity, they can pass that culture to you. Before you know it, you begin to exude a character that lacks integrity.
Look for the right mentors and discard those who don’t have integrity or cherish it.
Who Is Your Model Leader?
Who do you want to be like?
Most young people today have the wrong role models who inspire them to go to the top by doing all it takes, even if it means cheating and hurting people.
I have many role models as a leader, but my ultimate role model is Jesus Christ.
I want to be like Him. He embodies authentic leadership, and I look at Him beyond mere religion. He’s the path to be followed and reveals the ultimate leadership lifestyle.
Who is your role model?
Who are you modelling your life after?
Stay With The Right People
Stay with the right people. If you keep staying with people who cheat, lie and are lewd with time, their culture will rob off on you, and you’ll soon start to exhibit their character.
Do a thorough assessment of those you call friends. If they don’t uphold integrity, run away from them.
Stay On Your Word
Let your yes be yes and your no be no.
It may be difficult at first, but as you keep doing it, it gets easier to say yes to the right things and no to the wrong things.
Never be tempted to use your words to deceive or manipulate people.
If you can’t do something, don’t say you can. If you can do something and have already promised, ensure you fulfil that promise.
As you keep doing it, you grow your integrity in layers upon layers.
Embrace Feedback
When people point things out in your life, don’t be quick to shut them out; instead, look inward to see for yourself.
If someone calls me a liar or a cheater, I wouldn’t go into defence mode suddenly. Instead, I will sit back and examine myself to see if their claims are valid. If it’s true, I will quickly adjust, but if their claim is false, I will simply ignore it.
Feedback helps us to analyse ourselves.
Take what is useful and discard the rest if it’s not true.
Be Accountable And Responsible
Don’t pass the blame if it’s meant for you.
If you made a mistake, accept that mistake with an open heart and strive to improve.
Integrity is built in layers, and each layer takes determination to lay.
Leaders with integrity are not perfect folks. What differentiates them is that they are always ready to become better.
If they discover any mistakes, they are quick to correct them.
Respect Everybody
It’s your responsibility as a leader to respect everyone around you. Pure integrity is not just about you. It’s also about how you treat others.
Be conscious about treating other people with maximum respect.
Lack Of Integrity Is A Wicked Problem
A lack of integrity can bring down what has taken over 50 years to build in one hour.
As leaders, we always get to that point where we are tempted to compromise and do things in the dark.
It’s part of the test of leadership.
What makes a great leader is their ability to overcome such temptations behind closed doors, away from the camera and the crowd.
Money And The Opposite Sex
These two have taken down more leaders than any other. Most leaders struggle with money and how they relate with the opposite sex.
It can start from a seemingly harmless relationship with money and the opposite sex. If not tamed, it can grow into a wild dragon that can burn you to ashes and destroy your reputation to smithereens!
Once you discover the slightest inappropriateness with money or the opposite sex, don’t pamper it; deal with it immediately!
These are the issues that destroy great leadership.
There are the little things that compromise the integrity of the ship’s haul.
Barriers To Finishing Well
Global leadership experts like Dr Bobby Clinton have identified six major barriers to finishing well.
I will list them and make brief comments.
Finances: Fight greed and mismanagement. Always be ready to show what you do with every coin, no matter what. Even if nobody is going to know that you took out a little for yourself. Do it to strengthen the ship’s haul.
Power: Don’t abuse the power you have. Integrity guides your path through the delicate pathways of power. Power can corrupt; sometimes, it can be so intoxicating that you may not even know what you’re doing until it’s too late.
Pride: There’s nothing absolutely wrong with being confident and having courage. The problem is when you become arrogant and start to feel you’re the most important person and no one is like you or can counsel you.
Sex: Guard your relationships with the opposite sex. Leaders who are weak in this area can easily hurt their integrity, sometimes to the extent of irreparable damage.
Family: As a leader, it doesn’t matter how big your position is in the leadership sphere. Your number one priority is your family. At the end of the day, it’s how much love your family has for you and not the people or vision. Your family is the ultimate place where you express your integrity as a leader.
Plateauing: In addition, leaders who have done one thing for too long become tired and bored and lose their fire. This boredom can affect the quality of our work as leaders and, in the long run, can make us careless about the integrity of our haul—we may become less concerned and handle things poorly.
Take note of these areas and ensure you’re working consciously to preserve your integrity in all domains.
Final Thoughts On Integrity
Friends, to close the topic of integrity, I want to share what John Maxwell told Hans Finzel about what he would describe as a successful life when looking back from the finish line.
“I have always stated that my definition of success is that those closest to me love and respect me the most. So I will have finished well if, at the end… those closest to me, who knew me inside and out, love and respect me the most.”
That’s profound. While reputation is good and necessary to nurture, protect, and covet, what really matters is that those close to you can match your reputation with the person you are behind closed doors.
Ask yourself that same question.
What will people say about you when you come to the end of your leadership journey? Either at your current position or at the ultimate end of life.
And that’s it about integrity.
Next week, we will explore leading 360 degrees, a leadership principle created by leadership guru John Maxwell. And it will bring us to the end of the leadership series. Make sure you don’t miss it.
Have a productive week ahead.
