Transformational Leadership Blog

Integrity is the glue a leader and his influence together. Without influence, a leader cannot lead even if he is called Senior Manager or CEO. If integrity is lost, a leader is no more than a boring preacher that nobody heeds.

The following five early warning signs show the loss of integrity in a leader. When you see them, beware, an organizational storm is brewing. And that’s bad, bad, bad for the business.

1. The leader tells you to produce good results at all costs. He tells you that all he cares about is results and whispers to show you that there are really no corners to be cut. Everything is round as long as you’re not caught.

2. Cutting throats during so many meetings just to stay ahead of the competition. Have you been attending 10 meetings in a single week? What was said? What was done? If your boss or the leader keeps cutting throats, including yours, there might not be enough heads remaining to fuel the organization.

3. Blames the weather, the market, the competitor, or worse, the customer for a job badly done. Whoever shirks responsibility and offers a hundred excuses do not deserve to be a leader.

4. Jumps at any possible personal gain. It doesn’t matter if it jeopardizes the business operations or any of the projects the people are working on. But such insensitivity is sure to show that the leader is allowing his integrity to leak into the drain.

5. Proclaims business as usual when the storm outside is threatening to uproot the business. Such a leader obviously has no idea about context and how the environment affects the operations of the business. Such an approach will show the declining relevance of the leader in dealing with the issues of the organization.

Integrity is what makes a leader great and above average. Beryl Markham said “If a man has any greatness in him, it comes to light, not in one flamboyant hour, but in the ledger of his daily work.”

If the leader is passionate for the organization and its business, it will show in his work. If his integrity is slipping, it may be time to make adjustments or let go of such a leader.

Related posts:

1. The Top Ten Characteristics of the Soloist Leader
2. Nurture the Elements of Accountability or Lose Your Leadership
3. The Importance of Anticipation for a Leader and an Organization