Integrity is everything

Integrity is the cornerstone of all values. It’s a word and an ethos that incorporates all the virtues we celebrate: trust, credibility, respect, consistency, accountability, and impact.

Integrity is the faith others put in your word. This ability to model and convey integrity is essential to high-performing teams. Leaders have it, or they don’t. Most people are pretty good at figuring out who does and who doesn’t. And when you’ve earned it with enough people, it’s your reputation.

Have you had a leader that ‘presented’ as a principled person but whose words and deeds did not match what they say they are? My guess is they have a high self-orientation, and while they might believe they are masking it… we know. Maybe not immediately, but it doesn’t take too long. And once they lose it, it’s not easy to get it back (if they ever do).

Integrity is a binding agent. It helps us engage and find common ground when we believe someone is honest and reliable - regardless of whether you like them, or fully align with their business decisions. The core value that brought me to Slalom - which I continue to believe and practice as best I can - is “Do what is right, always”. I was blessed with a job that allowed me to do this, and have the support of senior leadership in making some really tough calls. The first time you really need to make that call as a leader is often the hardest.

If a decision isn’t the right thing to do, if it’s a hard or risky, always lean into your integrity. Have the confidence and fortitude to say “No” when you firmly believe that’s the right answer. Push back on decisions that you believe will in some way harm your team, your client, your company, or anyone potentially impacted by a decision. You won’t always get it right, but you can always try to get it right. And if ever you do fail to meet your standard of integrity, don’t waste calories on excuses. Don’t assign blame. Just acknowledge it, own it, and learn from it.