The Importance Of Integrity For A Successful Leader
One of the most essential factors of leadership is integrity. Integrity means that you know what you’re doing is right for you and for others. It’s also showing the virtues that you follow. As children, we are measured by how we show integrity. For example, on our report cards, we are not only graded on our academics, but also our effort. Those who end up with higher scores are the ones who try harder everyday to improve themselves. Those are signs of integrity.
Good leaders aren’t born with integrity, they develop it over time. The process of developing integrity has multiple layers to it. Kids are often taught at an early age to respect others and obey rules. As they get older, they are more respectful to their elders and peers and start to become consistent in these acts. Soon, they attract friendships with other kids that also possess integrity. As adults, people with integrity have honest and loyal relationships, and they often perform acts of kindness. An integrous leader is truthful in what they say, making others and their peers be able to open up to them. They are also respectful to both themselves and others, keeping in mind how others would feel when making decisions while also thinking about the virtues that they believe in.
When leaders have developed the characteristic of integrity, they still have to be consistent in their good decisions and acts. Integrous leaders not only have to be consistent in choosing right, but also have to be able to adapt to others feelings as well. For example, when someone is experiencing many issues, a good, integrous leader adjusts to their situation as if it was their own. That leader might help them out a little to keep their day flowing or shorten their load of work. When living with integrity, you not only think what is right for you, but what is right for others as well. One leader who I know that represents integrity is my soccer coach, Stacey. Besides dribbling the ball and making nice passes, my coach makes sure that we have good sportsmanship and show integrity no matter if we win or lose.
For example, one time, my team and I had won our soccer game and we had gathered around to do the final cheer to congratulate the opposing team. We had mispronounced the name of the team and said the cheer very quietly. However, instead of doing the cheer again, we had run off. My coach had found that extremely rude, and despite the fact that we won and were in a very happy mood, she had scolded us for not showing integrity. We all came back and cheered again and also said “thank you” to both sides. That day, she had demonstrated that every member of a team needs to be grateful and humble. Not only does my coach show integrity and good sportsmanship, she also makes sure that no one is ever excluded from playing in a game.
Even if a player is new, my coach will still manage to put that girl on the field for a reasonable amount of time. Stacey never thinks about letting the most experienced players play, instead, she thinks of it as a potential way for others to get better.Good leaders show integrity and are loyal in everything they do. They never take shortcuts and give their full 100% effort to do better. An integrous leader doesn’t jump ship and join another team just because it’ll be easier. Instead, an integrous leader sticks with their team through thick and thin. Even though they know it’ll be harder for them, they also know that it’s also the right thing to do.
