Do you ever wonder whether good leaders are born or made? Some agree that they are born, but leaders can also be made with willingness and practice. This is proved on a research that showed while some people may be born with certain traits that make them more likely to become good leaders, such as confidence, creativity, and communication skills, these traits can also be developed and enhanced through training and experience.
Many experts believe that leadership is a combination of both, which are natural born leaders and nurturing leadership qualities. Leadership is not just mere a skill, but a mindset. Without mindset, no actions will be done for improvements and growth. Having a growth mindset is a positive attitude that will contribute to an effective leadership.
What is integrity in leadership?
People who have integrity are honest, reliable and have very strong moral principles. This trait will have a long-lasting impression on others when it is developed. Leaders with integrity are not afraid of the truth, will stand firm by their words and will do what it takes to do the right thing for the company. To maintain integrity, leaders need to be honest and provide full transparency to team members.
Why is it important?
In leadership, this is a highly valued trait that will help to create trust between the leaders and the one who is being led by them. Leaders with this trait tend to have a strong presence that is valued by the people around them.
What traits do leaders with integrity have?
Leaders who possessed integrity traits tend to have these additional traits which when combined, will :
- Bravery
- Honesty
- Keep their words
- Consistent words and actions
- Not compromising values
- Transparency in sharing information
- Clear principles that guide actions and decision-making
- Leading by example
- Accountability
- Value relationships
- Supportive
- Self-awareness, courage, respect, empathy, and gratitude
How to develop integrity?
Developing integrity requires a commitment to honesty, transparency, and accountability. Here are some tips:
Be honest with yourself: Knowing about your own personal flaws, being open about it and accepting them is one one of the ways to develop personal integrity and improve yourselves.
Keep track in everything you do: Practice to stay accountable in everything that you are working on by keeping all records of your actions. You will also get to identify any areas that need to be improve.
Think before taking actions: Jumping into things without knowing whether it aligns with you can cause friction later in future. Be sure to know if you are able to follow through the tasks.
Say ‘No’ when needed: Putting on boundaries is a part of maintaining personal integrity and shows that you respect yourself. When you do this, people will respect you the same.
Practice effective communication: Actively listening to others without reactive emotions could help to build trust and build positive relationships with others.
Stay away from the toxic ones: Avoid people who keeps on complaining and surround yourself with people who lift you up to strengthen your commitment to integrity.
Don’t take anything personally: Sometimes ignoring the small unimportant stuffs and let go of things that don’t matter will help you keep a peace of mind and stress-free.
Remember, don’t sweat the small stuffs. If you don’t have these traits, it can be develop little by little. With great practice, your leadership skills will improve and this will create a positive relationship with yourself, others and also with your own career. To conclude, while some people may be born with integrity traits that make them more likely to become good leaders, it is important to note that leadership is primarily a skill that can be learned and developed over time.
