Lessons in IT Transformation: Technology Expert to Business Leader

The Most Important Characteristic of a Leader—Having Integrity

There is an old expression that says, “What you do speaks so loud I can't hear what you say!” Integrity is really about walking the talk. How many people do you see espouse a certain approach from their perch only to personally take a different road? How many televangelists and politicians preach the moral high ground, only to be caught in the web of lies and deceit? Integrity is the most important underpinning of any true leader.

My people know that I'm not the smartest, most talented, or handsome guy in the world (by a country mile!). But they do know that if I say something, you can take it to the bank. People who know me know what makes me tick. If you invite me to your house for dinner at 7 P.M., you can expect your doorbell to ring at 6:45. If you don't hear from me by 7 P.M., call the police to put out an all-points bulletin and call the hospitals. My word is my bond. I screw up with the best of them. I make lots of mistakes (anyone who actually tries to do something often will) and I have more flaws than the average bear. But you can count on me to do what I tell you I'm going to do. Integrity says that what I feel, what I say, and what I do are congruent and consistent. That's really all you can truly ask of anyone.

Lessons Learned

• Great leaders are very different in many ways. They have unique personalities and styles. However, they share some common characteristics and values, which include:
  • Authenticity ...