by Siti Ibrahim

Created on: June 25, 2009

Integrity is one of the positive traits for an effective and good leader. Personal integrity represents an honest, reliable and trustworthy person. If you are a leader; then you will bring along that good trait into your leadership style.

It is a blessing for an organization to have such a leader in their organization. Having many integrity leaders will indirectly shape up the organization to be an integrity organization; be respected by employees and public.

Why integrity is very important to leadership? Since integrity is a trait that exists from inner self; as a leader, you only can prove your integrity by the actions that you took and the decision that you choose. Integrity speaks by itself and it reflects on all your actions and decision. A leadership that built with integrity normally is part from an integrity organization; they can be confident that an individual with flawed character will not last long in their organizations; as it goes to the good people, will not stay for long in bad organizations. As the result; only integrity people will be working in the integrity organization.

When the organization's leadership is based on integrity, employees will have that security feeling in them. Your people will trust you as their leader and also trust the organization they are working with. Since you have that trait, you will be more open and in truth to accept any genuine critics and openly accept them as a positive feedback; and always try to improve. When a leader accept openly to the genuine critics and negative feedback; and when your people saw the way you react to the critics, they will also be more acceptance and be more openly to accept mistakes and critics. This is called a 'leadership by example'. It is easier to work with people who are ready for improvement and not afraid of receiving any negative feedback. For employees, this type of working environment will create a peace of mind and minimize stress, anxiety and worry at the workplace. With a lesser stress; you will get more productivity. So, it is a win-win situation; benefit to your organization and to your people.

With integrity in leadership; also mean to provide a real value of services with honesty and confident. Your leadership style will adopt the quote that is saying 'Honesty is the best policy'; and you respect that policy. By being honest, your organization and the top management will trust the details of reports that produce by you, trust your dealing with sub-contractors and trust the way you manage your people. Every management and share holders are aware that by having integrity leaders with their integrity leadership; they can trust and believe that their organization is in the right hand, and will be successful. That is the power of having leaders with their integrity leadership, especially in the long run.

Without integrity, employees have no faith, no trust and are always be mistreated. The management can expect a high employee turnover rate. Public will talk. Organization will get bad name and reputation. Likewise, If the organization only focus on sales target; but neglect on the attitude, character and habits of their leaders and their untrustworthiness leadership, it's a bad sign. It a signed of failure.

So, organization should have integrity in their leadership; have the correct mindset at a certain core belief, values and principle. It is very important value compared to anything else. Everybody should develop that mindset; especially those who lead the organization.

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