Leadership Development: Integrity - Is Doing Right Really High Risk?
By Larry Boyer, Career Coach & Personal Branding Strategist
One of the biggest challenges leader face is when to stand up for what's right, even if it might cost their job. The news is filled with leaders who pass the buck, turn a blind eye or even try to cover up their own mistakes. This happens to leaders at all levels of an organization, including individual contributors. There is often the fear that choosing to do what's right is more risky than pretending nothing is wrong or justifying why what we know is wrong is ok.
Do I tell the client or my boss that the numbers I gave her are off by a little bit? Do I shred these documents? When the investigator asks me if I saw something do I say “no”? If I see something wrong happening do I just tell someone in a higher position and let it go?
Plain and simply though, people who engage in behavior of choosing the “easy” route over doing what’s right are not leaders, even if they are in a leadership role. Being a leader everyone is watching you to be a role model and to set a standard. If the leader let's deficiencies or improper behavior to continue, some will follow suite and others will get disengaged because they see honesty and integrity don't matter.
Leaders usually fail to take action because they fear the consequences of both "What if I'm right?" and "What if I'm wrong?" Could I get fired? Will I alienate someone? Will I create an uncomfortable or awkward situation for myself?
The child sex abuse case of one of Penn State's assistant football coach's is an unfortunate example of failed leadership and integrity. Former Penn State Football Coach Joe Paterno had been given knowledge of the abuse and while he did report it to his superior, he never showed the follow up leadership one would expect from a leader of his caliber. While we may never know what went through his mind, we can guess based on his actions that he felt the risk of taking more action was worse than the risk of taking action for him. The risk to the boys didn't factor in. The risk to Penn State's reputation may was probably considered only partly with the conclusion that it was better to try to hide it than reveal it. Then, when the scandal broke, the university Trustees quickly came to the conclusion that Coach Paterno lose his job.
Do you want to lose your job because you didn’t stand up for what was right? How would you feel if you lost your job because you stood up for what was right? Which choice would make you more employable in the future?
As part of your leadership development program in You, Inc make sure you spend time thinking and practicing integrity.