Integrity in Leadership (Strength #1 in Courage)

What, SPECIFICALLY, do GREAT leaders DO differently?

LESSON FOUR on the Tilt Leadership Model

Category: Courage Meta-Factor

Definition of Courage:  The ability to face risk with confidence and integrity, creating momentum for fair and just action.   

Proficiency #1.  Demonstrates Behavioral Congruence.  (Strength=Integrity)

The leader who is great at this knows his or her values well and demonstrates them through action and behavior.  This requires thoughtful reflection so that the leader has clear beliefs and values that are articulated easily and are clearly seen in what they choose to do each day.  A lack of this congruence on the part of a leader is confusing to others and can be disastrous to the leadership agenda because of the chaos it renders.

The Core Principles of Integrity:

1.  Principle of Wholeness:  Demonstrating integrity requires a consistent framework of internal moral and rational principles that are exemplified by the whole person.  Tilt is by nature a whole person model that includes head, heart, gut and spirit and measures the internal consistency of a person's framework as demonstrated in their perceived behavior.  Therefore one might say that Tilt is a model that clarifies the integrity of the whole person so that they have greater awareness.

2.  Principle of Consistency:  Integrity also implies an avoidance of arbitrary exceptions for one person or group of persons as exempt from the rules that apply to everyone else.  In law, there is a principle of universal application that requires the people in authority and power are subject to the same law as the citizens.

3.  Principle of Cause & Effect:  In science, integrity refers to a cause and effect relationship that can be predicted consistently.  This implies that one can expect the same effect every time the "cause" is initiated.  In leadership, this would mean that every time a particular issue arises, the leader can be predicted to respond with a consistent "effect".  This contributes to sustainability and predictability which stabilizes organizational behavior and helps clarify "what's okay" and "what's not okay" as demonstrated by everyone in the organization, including the leader.


So, how does the leader create integrity in climate & culture?  

They stand for what is right and just AND they are willing to take a stand for what is rational and moral through their actions.  They have an internally consistent moral compass that guides them in all they do and they teach this to others.  Especially through accountability and encouraging moral responsibility in others.  Even if there is a personal cost.  One of my favorite movies about leadership is "The Last Castle" which is a story about a five star general (played by Robert Redford) who, because of a moral conviction, breaks a law that is in conflict with what he thinks is right and good.  He takes an action at great personal risk, because he knows he will also go to prison for making the decision.  They are willing to pardon him because of his rank and he insists that he must pay for his decision by serving his time in prison, even if the law is irrational.  He therefore, demonstrates the classic core principles of integrity.

The Systemic Challenge:

In most organizations today, temptations are rampant.  Excessive financial incentives for senior leaders promote such enticing temptations that many fall prey to human vices such as vanity, greed, and a false sense of grandiosity.  Loss of integrity happens over time, when small actions that are in-congruent lead to accumulation of bigger compromises.  Recent stories of previously successful leaders gone awry are rampant in the news today, caused by a loss of integrity.  Mark Herd, of HP, is one example and his termination costs the shareholders of that company millions upon millions.  The cost of integrity by a mission critical leader is tangible and debilitating to the value of the firm they represent.

The Tilt model as a whole is about leadership that will bring about personal wholeness and integrity.  Development of whole person integrity happens through achievement of balance and polarity management. If a leader masters the polarities of the Tilt leadership model, the natural outcome is the sustainability and viability of the organization as a healthy vibrant contributor to society.


Interesting Learning for this lesson:  (Integrity, Carter, 1997)

"In a formal study of the term "integrity" and its meaning in modern ethics, law professor Stephen L. Carter sees integrity not only as a refusal to engage in behavior that evades responsibility, but also as an understanding of different modes or styles in which discourse attempts to uncover a particular truth.  In other words, there are necessary tools required to maintain integrity.

Carter writes that integrity requires three steps:

1. Discerning what is right and what is wrong;
2. Acting on what you have discerned, even at personal cost; and
3. Saying openly that you are acting on your understanding of right from wrong.

Stephen regards integrity as being distinct from honesty."


Quote by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.  

"Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you."


Questions for thought:

What are you doing to discern, act on and speak about integrity so that it lives through your example and in your team?  What personal cost are you willing to risk in order to be consistent with these principles?

NEXT time:  

Meta-Factor of COURAGE and Proficiency #5


Pam Boney, Lead Instructor
Tilt Academy for Innovative Leadership
Copyright, 2010
pam@tilt360leaders.com