Integrity is an interesting word. 

On one hand, the most common definition of it is “a strict adherence to a set of morals or principles” – a commitment to doing what you consider to be right. 

On the other hand, it can also be used to mean “complete, whole, structurally sound”. 

If you consider yourself to be high in integrity, you might have experienced that sometimes, living by a code of ethics can make you feel anything but complete and structurally sound. 

Sometimes, making the right choice costs you opportunities and connections. 

It’s been said that leaders with high integrity are actually less successful at moving up the ladder because they won’t step on heads to get there. 

Consider this article by Forbes with the headline, “CEOs with ‘integrity’ are less competitive and profitable, says new research with disturbing implications”. 

The grim summary? New research by the author found that CEOs who practice daily integrity are, on average, “less creative, more risk-averse, and less likely to take initiative than other CEOs” (Prachi Gala, Forbes Fortune, March 2023). 

The article explains that traditionally, high integrity in a leader meant higher loyalty and buy-in from team members and less internal fraud – which is good for the reputation of the leader inside the organization and good for lowering costs. 

But it’s not all good news, say the authors of the paper (Saim Kashmiri and Prachi Gala.)

The research team for this new study analyzed letters by CEOs of 213 financial firms to look for specific words that are associated with high and low integrity. 

They then combed the same letters, this time searching for keywords that were identified as high in innovation and risk-taking. 

The final results? The CEOs that ranked high in integrity correlated with a lower instance of innovation and risk-taking behavior – behaviors that affect the bottom line of an organization, and the trajectory of a leader. 

I know you’re thinking it – what can some letters really say about the real-world integrity (and therefore the success, apparently) of CEOs? 

It’s an interesting piece of data, sure – but how does it affect your leadership trajectory? 

Let’s talk about integrity and your career goals. 

Your ethical framework for making decisions as a leader 

You think of yourself as a good person, right? 

You try to put your best foot forward, make the right decision, and be kind and patient whenever possible. 

As a leader, you probably try to do the same thing – but there are times when it’s challenging. 

Times when being honest is harder than lying for the sake of your reputation. 

Times when it seems too easy to undercut someone else for a promotion or a leg up – a chance to sit at the Big Table. 

Times when having a tough conversation about performance or having to let someone go is more of a struggle than just ignoring the problem or trying to work around it. 

For the most part, you try to do the hard thing, which is usually the right thing. 

But sometimes, the hard thing – the “right” thing – puts you behind your peers, because you choose to stand up for a hurting team member or shed light on an unethical situation, and lose your spot in the race to the top. This usually happens if there are leaders in your ranks who have low integrity and are more focused on getting ahead than being a good leader. 

So how do you find the right balance between being a good, honest leader and making sure you’re doing your job to increase shareholder value for your organization? 

How to find a balance between integrity and brave entrepreneurship

A good way to start finding more balance as an integrity-driven leader and a leader who will help your organization get ahead is to 1) identify what is not a high-integrity behavior and cut these actions and beliefs out of your life, and 2) work on saying yes to new challenges, opportunities, and calculated risks. 

Some leaders are great showmen. They know when to turn on the charm and feign “integrity” (*hint* it’s when people are watching or there will be some big payoff for it.) 

That’s not integrity at all. That’s just someone who knows how to act when people are watching. 

But there are more nefarious, humble ways that you might think you’re acting in good faith, but it’s actually doing the opposite for your reputation and leadership trajectory. 

Here are some examples of things that are NOT integrity-based behaviors: 

• People-pleasing: If you have a hard time saying “no” to others, drawing boundaries around your time and resources, and giving too much of yourself, you’re not showing integrity – you’re being a pushover. Someone with high integrity will make the time for the people who need it most. As a leader who is practicing integrity, it’s important you protect your time and resources so that you don’t get burnt out.
• Showing bias or favor towards people you consider to be “good people” over “bad people”: Doing the right thing, but only for people you like, isn’t the right thing. Acting in integrity can mean doing the right thing even when it’s for someone you have a history of distaste for. 
• Doing the right thing only when it benefits you: Here’s where true leaders are separated from those who just want to get ahead. There will be times when doing the right thing will get you ahead (putting in extra hours or coaching during a tough project, donating to a team fundraiser, or sharing great feedback with your boss about how your team is performing). And there will also be times when doing the right thing can hurt your career (taking responsibility for a project gone awry, instead of shifting the blame, for example.) If you only do the right thing when it makes you look good, you’re not high in integrity. You’re just sly and conniving. 

If you’ve been guilty of any of these recently, it’s time to start changing your ways. Pure integrity will help your leadership trajectory – but so will practicing the skills of entrepreneurship, the same skills that have built empires and changed the face of culture: innovation and calculated risk-taking. 

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