Lead With Integrity To Inspire Those Around You

Integrity is a cornerstone of effective leadership - it builds trust and credibility, which are essential for guiding and inspiring others. Most leaders that I chat with know that integrity is important, but they don't understand what impacts their team's perception of their integrity nor how to improve their integrity when it is low. Leaders with high integrity consistently align their actions with their values and principles, thus acting in ways that are true to one's beliefs and ethical standards, even when it's challenging. This consistency of integrity has rippling positive impacts across a team:

• Authenticity and Trust: When one leads with integrity and aligns their actions with their values, they build trust with their team. By consistently demonstrating their values, they create a transparent and reliable leadership style that inspires trust and encourages team members to follow their lead.
• Clarity of Purpose: Consistent and transparent messaging enables leaders to articulate a compelling vision and mission, instilling a sense of purpose in their team and motivating them to strive for excellence.
• Ethical Decision-Making: Leaders who have strong integrity have a strong moral compass for their leadership. Leaders with strong integrity make quality ethical decisions that are grounded in integrity, fairness, and honesty, setting strong standards for their team to follow.
• Inspiring and Motivating Others: Leaders who have high integrity become a source of inspiration for their team members. Their values-driven leadership style serves as a model for the team, encouraging them to embrace their own values and align their actions with their beliefs, resulting in increased motivation, engagement, and commitment.
• Building a Cohesive Team: Leaders who share their values with their team and encourage open and honest discussions, foster an inclusive culture where team members can align their own values with the team's collective values. A team that shares and embraces common values develops a stronger bond, collaboration, and synergy, leading to higher productivity and success.

Ready to take your integrity to the next level? Great keep reading for tips on how to improve your integrity and start seeing an increase in accountability and ethical behavior throughout your team.

Step 1 - Audit How You Are Showing Up

Leaders who have high integrity are respectful and fair; ethical; courageous; prudent; and honest. Hold up a mirror and take a good look:

1. I express gratitude when others help me.
2. I make ethical calls even when they are hard to do so.
3. I make decisions that support the advancing of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the workplace.
4. I demonstrate in my actions that I value honesty and openness
5. I take responsibility for my actions - good and bad.
6. I respect the opinions of others on a daily basis even if I don't agree with them.
7. I address conflicts honestly and respectfully with everyone equally.
8. I mentor and coach team members of all backgrounds and identities.
9. I show up everyday ready to work.
10. Others can count on me to be reliable and trustworthy.
11. I report unethical behavior quickly.
12. I communicate openly and transparently, even when delivering difficult or unwelcome news.
13. I treat all team members with respect.
14. I take steps in 1:1 and group interactions to be inclusive of diverse perspectives.
15. I am skilled at exercising good judgment.
16. I follow through on commitments that I promise.
17. I am able to navigating complex situations effectively even when having to make decisions that involve ethical choices.
18. I feel confident to stand up for what is right, even when faced with opposition or challenges.

Take stock, how many of these indicators are you consistently demonstrating? How would your team rate you?

Step 2 - Define Who You Are as a Leader

• What motivates and inspires me as a leader?
• What kind of culture do I want to create within my team/organization?
• What are the goals for my team/organization and how do I plan to achieve them?
• How do I plan to communicate with and empower my team members?
• What kind of leader do I aspire to be?
• How am I currently known in my team? In the organization?
• How can I seek out feedback from others, such as colleagues or mentors, to gain insight into how my leadership style is perceived and what I can do to improve?

To be a great leader it is critical to be willing to adapt and grow, while remaining true to your core values and unique attributes. By continually refining your leadership approach, you can develop a style that is authentic, effective, and inspiring to those you lead.

Looking to improve your integrity as a leader?

And check out these additional resources

• NYTimes Corner Office: If Supervisors Respect the Values, So Will Everyone Else
• Forbes: The Power of Values In Leadership
• Janice Omadeke on The Mentor Method and Why Values Matter
• SHRM: Values Based Leadership In Action

• Hidden Brain: What Do You Want To Be?