An old proverb stated there is no honor among thieves. I have wondered if thieves would admit that. I raise the question because I know no one who would confess to having a lack of integrity. If one were to suggest to another person that she or he lacked integrity, the charge would be taken most offensively.

Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary defines integrity as 1: an unimpaired condition: soundness 2: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility 3: the quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness.

While we generally limit the meaning of integrity to sterling qualities like honesty, goodness and trustworthiness, we can speak of a bridge having integrity, meaning it is complete and sound. All its parts are working together for one purpose: to be structurally strong and safe.

Why then is integrity so universally admired that some claim to have it even when we might be certain they have not? Most people strive to be decent, honest, and trustworthy. It would be a most difficult public confession that one lacks some of these virtues. And when one is able to self-confess such lack, that person wants to make a concerted effort to overcome the deficiency.

they must never experience a lack of integrity. The loss of confidence such lack would create would so undermine the ability to lead that it would all but guarantee organizational and personal failure.

Only a fool would cross a bridge, knowing it lacked integrity, or board an aircraft that did. Who would trust a surgeon who had no integrity? Integrity instills confidence and the leader must have it. Those who would follow must find it in their leader.

Let us now focus our attention upon that aspect of integrity that might not be so obvious. To have integrity requires that the leader be complete and undivided. This manifests itself in

complete and undivided loyalty to the mission, to those led, and to all who support our organization’s endeavors. It demands that the leader be completely undivided in commitment to honesty, loyalty to one’s subordinates, and fairness. A complete and undivided faithfulness to a code of conduct must be exhibited.

People need to know that their leaders strive to exercise sound judgment, that they adhere to a strong code of conduct, and that they are totally committed to the enterprise and those who serve it. A failure to lead with integrity will assure failure as a leader. Integrity is an essential characteristic of leadership.