Integrity Wins

Oct 222012

The International Cycling Union has stripped Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles because of doping. In the sports world, that’s technical speak for cheating. When oh when will people learn that cheating does NOT get you anywhere. Sure he enjoyed fame and success for a brief period, but that just made the fall even more devastating.

Not only is he a disgrace to his sport, but he also misled people. He was the spokesperson for Livestrong. He raised money for his foundation as a Tour de France winner. And for some, he was their hero. Seven Tour de France titles and he beat cancer. What was not to like about him? Should we be shocked? Maybe. Of course, when it comes to professional athletes, nothing shocks me anymore.

What is it in a person’s past, upbringing, psyche, values system, etc., that would cause them to cheat like this? Was winning at all costs more important than integrity? Leaders should show integrity in all situations, even if it means losing every now and then. There is nothing wrong with being competitive and wanting to win, but winning should not come at the expense of your integrity or at the expense of others.

Some who cheat have been doing it so long that they have convinced themselves that what they are doing is OK. I have known people who justified cheating. They cheated on tests because they needed the grade to get a scholarship. They cheated because others are doing it and if they don’t do it they will never win. I contend that maintaining integrity in all situations (win or lose) IS winning. Athletes aren’t the only ones who cheat, but because they are “celebrities” (laughable), we hear and see more of their lives than we probably want.

Cheating is cheating, plain and simple. Leaders who cheat will eventually get caught. But, if people lead from a position of integrity in all things, they ARE winners. They are the ones who can go to sleep each night with a clear conscience. Did Lance Armstrong go to bed each night knowing that he was living a lie?

In all situations, lead with integrity. Do what’s right even if it means you “lose” or even if it’s not popular. In the end, you will be a winner.

Pull Up Your Pants

Communication No Responses »

Aug 302012

For the past few years, I have noticed more and more young people (OK, sometimes not so young people) wearing their shorts and pants far below the waistline exposing their underwear for all the world to see. And they have to hold their pants/shorts up to keep them from falling down around their ankles. I just don’t get it. And I really don’t want to see it. Is this a fad gone mad? Or just youth expressing themselves? Either way, I have to wonder if they realize how it looks to the rest of the world? Or for that matter, if they even care.

Young people have been expressing themselves for years. I get that. In the ’80s I had spiked hair, which seems rather tame compared to baggy pants and exposed underwear. To me, the baggy, sloppy look communicates a lack of self-respect. Right or wrong, that’s my impression. And if they don’t respect themselves, do they respect others? Do they know and understand what respect is?

What are leaders communicating to those around them? What does their demeanor, style of dress, speech and the way they handle situations communicate about THEM? Do these things communicate respect or disrespect for self and others?

As you move up the leadership chain, more and more people are watching you. Consider yourself always on stage. Think about what you say BEFORE you say it. Think about your actions BEFORE acting and ask yourself this question. “Would I want what I’m about to say or do splattered across the internet as the lead story on Google, Yahoo, etc. or would I want it printed in the local paper, national magazine or company newsletter?” Right or wrong, your actions communicate who you are. Think about what you want to communicate to the world…and pull up your pants!

Be A Leader Others Can Trust

Trust 2 Responses »

Jan 102012

A few years ago, I facilitated the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People workshop. One of the things from the workshop that has stuck with me over the years is this concept of the Emotional Bank Account, which is a metaphor for trust. The more deposits you make into the Emotional Bank Account of others, the more trust you build up with them. At the foundation of all relationships is trust. If you don’t have trust, then what do you have?

As a leader, your credibility is built on trust. If I trust you I find you credible. If I don’t or can’t trust you, you have little or no credibility as a leader. So how do you build trust? How do you build up the Emotional Bank Account with others? Following are a few things you can do to establish and build trust:

Keep promises
Honor expectations
Don’t talk about someone behind their back
Be courteous
Follow-through on an important assignment

No one expects you to be perfect, but they do expect you to live up to your commitments. And if for some reason you are not able to keep a commitment, be honest with them up front.

Unlike a real bank account, one doesn’t make a deposit into someone else’s Emotional Bank Account in order to make a withdrawal at some point in the future. Every time you fail to keep a commitment or don’t do any of the things listed above, you are taking a withdrawal from someone’s Emotional Bank Account. If the trust level is high enough with them, taking that withdrawal will NOT damage the relationship. However, if you have failed to make deposits into their Emotional Bank Account, you could damage the relationship beyond repair. And if you do that, you are seen as untrustworthy and lose credibility.

Leadership Is Not A Popularity Contest

Leadership Traits 1 Response »

Nov 212011

In light of the Penn State situation surrounding a former assistant football coach, I thought I’d focus on a couple of leadership traits, integrity and courage, that I believe are extremely important…and ones that seemed lacking in several people associated with the situation at Penn State. All are presumed innocent until proven guilty, so I’m not even going to get into that. I want to focus on what leaders should do in all situations.

Integrity is basically honesty. It’s doing what you say you will do. Without honesty, there is no trust. And if there is no trust, people will not follow you. Integrity is doing what’s right even if it’s not popular. And there is no situation that is so sacred that you should turn a blind eye. Do what’s right.

The other trait that seems to be lacking in many these days is courage, which goes along with integrity. Courage means accepting responsibility and facing the challenges that are presented to you. If leaders at Penn State would have demonstrated integrity and courage, maybe some of the alleged incidents would have been stopped or prevented. Instead, leaders did nothing and allowed a horrible situation to get worse.

As a leader, you are not expected to be perfect, but you are expected to do the right things, even if they are unpopular. Whether it’s Penn State, Enron, the Catholic Church, Syracuse, etc. bad situations could have been avoided or the impact lessened if only the leaders would have had the integrity and courage to step up and do what’s right.