Integrity

Doing the right thing also means admitting when you got it wrong

We all know that having high integrity means you do not lie, cheat, or steal.

But having high integrity also means keeping your promises, doing what you said you were going to do when you said you were going to do it, and admitting when you make a mistake.

I have to admit, this last one is the hardest for me. I LOATHE the feeling that I’ve messed up. But being able to say, “That one is my fault” or “It’s on me” or “My bad” or “I got it wrong” is part of leadership integrity. People respect a leader who has a “buck stops here” mentality. They learn that you are not going to throw them under the bus to protect your fragile ego. Admitting errors is also how you see what you need to fix and start fixing it.

If admitting “I was wrong” is a challenge for you, try pairing it with a “and I’m going to make it right by doing…” statement. It gets easier over time, and it makes you a better leader.

(Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash)