Actions speak louder than words. Cliché, right? Not for leaders. How many times have we been confused by company leadership stating they are all about customer centricity, and then cutting the budgets for user testing because “we need to move fast”? What about cognitive dissonance where “each one of you is essential in having this company succeed” doesn’t match with “people affected by layoffs were chosen due to low productivity and lackluster engagement; we need to do more with less now!”?
It’s essential to walk the walk if you choose to talk the talk
Simple as that. Integrity is an important piece of the fabric of a well-functioning society in general, but it’s non-negotiable at work, especially if you’re a leader. You hired smart people; don’t you think they will catch all the inconsistencies between what you say and what you do? You bet they will. So, how to do better?
This 3-step reflective practice can help you discover where you can work on your integrity at work:
What do I want to see in my team?
What type of behavior, change, or consistent action do you need for the team to succeed?
Clearly identifying what is needed is the backbone of situational leadership.
What type of example am I in relation to this?
- If I expect my team to be reliable and react to each other’s needs, how many Slack reminders do I need to do a thing for them?
- If my expectation is that my team talks to other teams and builds relationships, when was the last time I spoke to my cross-functional partners in other departments?
- Expecting folks to come to a company-wide party and integrate but not showing up yourself — must I continue?
Which areas do I need to develop?
Based on the previous two steps, when there is a difference between what you preach and what you do, ask yourself: what development is needed? What can I do to bridge the gap and avoid confusion for my team?
It doesn’t require much time: this could be a weekly or monthly 30-minute meeting with yourself, but it will get you far. More integrity and leading by example is a straight path to more trust at work. Try it out.
Where do you have some gaps between your words and actions? I would be curious to know.
