Tony Randall and Michael Mindlin, in Which Reminds Me, tell a story about a Hollywood agent\u2019s son who asked his dad what the word \u201cintegrity\u201d meant. \u201cLet me give you an example, son. Let\u2019s say Kirk Douglas sent me a check for the agency\u2019s commission on the new picture we got for him. And let\u2019s say a few days later his business manager sends me another check in error for the same commission. Integrity is whether or not I tell my partner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Integrity is a hot presidential issue this year with proponents from both parties pointing to the lack of character of Bush and Kerry in some aspects of their military service. We expect our leaders to be honest and serve in a manner that demonstrates high character and virtue. Integrity is usually used synonymously with honesty, honor, reliability, etc.; however, it is defined by more than just any one term. True integrity means a total congruence between who we are and what we do. A person with integrity lives in congruence with their values that are expressed and implied to others.<\/p>\n
A client recently asked an interesting question that got me thinking. We were discussing the behavior of individuals whose actions appeared questionable in a business deal, and he asked: \u201cWhere\u2019s your line?\u201d<\/p>\n
Not knowing exactly what he meant, I asked him to explain. He said that long ago he had determined the exact amount of money that it would take to get him to abandon his character. Up to a certain amount he would be true to his values, but after that amount he would be willing to sell his soul to the devil\u2014so to speak.<\/p>\n
We can respect a person who has determined where to draw the line. What bothered me is that I could not tell him where the line was for me. I am not na\u00efve enough to believe that I don\u2019t have a line. There have been situations where someone drew the line and I wouldn\u2019t step over it, but I guess I have not been in a situation that has tested how far that line would go before I step over it.<\/p>\n
A. H. Almaas stated: \u201cTo contact the deeper truth of who we are, we must engage in some activity or practice that questions what we assume to be true about ourselves.\u201d The true test of your character is often revealed in what you do when you think no one else is around or will know what you have done. For some, that line may be a $.50 candy bar. It could be a $10 bill that you found and did not bother to find out who it belonged to. The amount that it will take to go against what you know to be the right thing is at the soul of this point. How much would you sell your soul for?<\/p>\n
If you are in a leadership position, and have influence or control over the lives of others, it is vital that your actions are congruent with what you say and feel. Those actions must have integrity with your vision and what you expect others to do. Any question in your integrity will erode the bond of trust that holds together any relationship.<\/p>\n
Trust grows when you keep your promises and follow through on your commitments. Herb Kelleher, the former CEO of Southwest Airlines, was known as a person of integrity because he could be trusted to do what he said he would do\u2014even if it meant a loss to his company. Kelleher also expected his employees to have integrity when dealing with others. He said, \u201cIf one of our employees commits Southwest Airlines to doing something, we stand behind that commitment\u2014even if it\u2019s a bad business decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bob Montgomery, then Southwest\u2019s manager of properties, made a verbal commitment on behalf of the company to the City of Austin, Texas, to fund some preliminary design work for a new airport. From Southwest\u2019s viewpoint the new airport was a mistake and would cost the company $400,000. When Herb Kelleher heard about the deal, he asked if the deal had been signed. The answer was \u201cno,\u201d but he was also told that Montgomery had told the Austin officials that Southwest would do it. To that Keller responded, \u201cIf Bob represented that we would sign it, then that\u2019s what we\u2019re going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
How much is your character worth? At what point would you abandon your values, be disloyal to a friend, or do whatever it took to make a sale? These are hard questions to answer that may very well define where that line is.<\/p>\n
Sterling Sill said that we should be aware of the fact that our \u201cgreatest sin is to be conscious of none.\u201d Our greatest error may be in saying that we have no line. If we can\u2019t define what that line is, it may well destroy the virtues and opportunities we have spent a lifetime to build.<\/p>\n
(Rik is a business instructor at NMC and Janel is the owner of Positively Outrageous Results. They have consulted with over 400 businesses in 40 different industries. For better business results go to BizResults.biz to read previous articles.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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