This post is Post 2 in a series of four about Integrity, the quality I consider to be “the currency of a great leader.” The next post in this series will come next week. Click here to go to the previous post in this series.
The world needs great leaders, and we need them now. From Weiner to Madoff, the poor leadership and ethical failures of both elected officials and corporate executives haunt the news, and the general public is more aware than ever that good leadership is very hard to find. There are challenges in every aspect of our society, whether in business, government, nonprofit organization, etc. These challenges require great leaders to develop inspiring solutions that will permanently fix the underlying problems. This will be far different than providing another “band aide” solution that will leave the problem to be addressed in the future. Does this sound like political process in the United States?
Here the important question- “What are your professional values?” That is right, I am not asking for your employer’s values. I am asking for your values a leader. Questions like these are not asked enough of our leaders. To me, Integrity is the major currency of a great leader and that was taught to me by my parents and my mentors. In all of the leadership scandals this is the value that takes the greatest hit because once a leader’s integrity is compromises, people will not trust you! As I say in my book, “Without Integrity- You Got Nothing.” Truly great leaders have worked hard to develop integrity, and even harder to maintain it. These leaders understand that a leader does not need to be a genius to be successful – cultivating good leadership skills is not hard, it’s just hard work.
A Leader needs to have strong foundation on which to build a career and their Values are at the center of that foundation. When the challenges come, and believe me they will come a Leader needs a strong sense of Values to be like their north star to guide them. Often when I present to a corporation audience I ask “Do the values of Respect, Integrity, Communications, and Excellence sound like good corporate values?” Almost unanimously those in attendance say “yes, in fact our company has many of those same values”. I then share that those values were values of the ENRON Corporation. The reaction is almost universal, shock! It is important is to work in an organization where your personal and corporate values align. When this alignment exits, literally magic can happen in terms of achieving great results.
If you work in an organization like ENRON that does not live up to its corporate values, and whose values are inconsistent with your own professional values- QUIT! Your personal and professional reputation as a leader is too important to risk for some bad behavior by an employer.