(Warning: This post contains a discussion of US politics.)
When was the most recent time you had to choose between doing what was right instead of what was easy?
At work, people—not just leaders—make these decisions all the time. Too often those decisions disappoint the people with the most power. What happens?
- Sometimes, the powerful leader fires the person with less power. That’s a prime example of “power over” with a side of retribution.
- Other times, the powerful leader warns the person with less power to not do that again. This might be an example of bullying behavior.
- Every so often, the powerful leader takes the information and chooses to change. That’s an example of “power with.”
I’ve been in all three positions—and I prefer the last one. (After being fired twice as a middle manager for telling clients and senior management the truth, I chose to become a consultant.)
But we saw two examples last week of expecting retribution when two major newspapers declined to endorse any candidate for President. Even though everyone knew both papers would have endorsed Harris. Those newspaper owners did what was easy, not what was right.
You might say that the newspapers chose to protect their employees’ jobs just in case the candidate who focuses on retribution wins.
Maybe.
Instead, I see a lack of courage. Instead of doing what was right—and fulfilling their self-described leadership roles—those so-called leaders chose to do what was easy.
Worse, that allows other people to do what’s easy, not what’s right. That decreases overall integrity in the organization and definitely in society.
Integrity Matters More Than We Might Think
In the chapter about hiring managers in Hiring Geeks That Fit, I used this quote:
“Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.” — Warren Buffett (In Joan Magretta’s What Management Is, p. 194)
The more powerful the person, the more integrity matters. Because without integrity, their intelligence and energy will kill the organization. Or the society.
I’m sure that my readers do not all agree with me on policy. That’s fine. I’ve changed my policy positions several times over the past few decades. (Insert some laughter here.) Why so much change? Because everything about the world has changed.
Nothing about work is the same as when I started in 1977. Nor is the culture the same. While I’m thrilled with most of these changes, I worry a lot about the world we will leave to future generations. (Yes, we might disagree on how to do so.)
That’s why integrity matters most when you have power. The more power you have, the more integrity matters. And the more integrity you have, the easier it is to use your courage to make unpopular decisions.
If you have already voted, terrific.
If you have not yet voted, ask yourself this question: Which candidate has the integrity to use power, but not wield it against others, as a bully, planning for retribution?
That’s the candidate who has integrity, who will have the courage to do what’s right. Not necessarily what’s easy. And yes, that candidate is Kamala Harris. She might not always be correct, but she has integrity. That integrity will allow her to use her intelligence and energy with courage.