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The Effective Leader Lives by the Highest Standards of Honesty and Integrity

January 17, 2000

"Live your life by the highest standards of honesty and integrity.  Throughout your career you will be tempted to do the expedient, to shade the truth or violate moral principles.  Stand firm, don't waiver, and someday you can look back at your accomplishments with pride and satisfaction, for you will have succeeded by doing things the right way without violating the trust given to you by your followers.  More than anything else, your legacy will be that you inspired others to live their lives in a similar fashion.

Integrity in a leader must be demonstrated daily and in a number of tangible ways:
1. Do what you say you will do. 
2. Never divulge information given in confidence to you by superiors or colleagues.
3. Accept responsibility for your mistakes.
4. Never become involved in a falsehood or a lie.
5. Avoid accepting gifts or gratuities from inside or outside the company that compromise your ability to perform in the best interest of your employer.

The true measure of living your life by the highest standards of honesty and integrity comes if you can go any place in the world and never encounter someone who can point a finger at you and say, 'That man did me in.'

Remember without integrity you do not have trust, and without trust you have nothing (Manske, 1990, pp. 34-36)!"

Reference:  Manske, F.A. (1990, 2nd ed.).  Secrets of effective leadership.  Columbia, TN: Leadership Education and Development, Inc.

How is your life?

* Secrets to Effective Leadership is available on loan at the OSU Leadership Center.  A listing of all the Leadership Center's resources is available on our website www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~leaders

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Created: 2009-01-02, Updated: 2009-01-12