In this post, I never made it past your second paragraph, which is why I am now typing away. I don’t know if it is that we totally disagree or whether the choice of your words is what has tripped me up.

I do not believe that integrity is what makes a leader, nor do I think that integrity is the single most important ingredient of leadership. But we will probably agree that only those “great” leaders who have integrity are worthy of emulation. And even then, note that I use the word “great” in parentheses.

Genghis Khan and Adolf Hitler, to pick two obvious examples, were truly great leaders; but who among us would want to follow them or even have them as neighbors? Historians define the quality of greatness as … did they impact history in a significant way, did they able to lead legions of people, did they inspire fanatical masses, did they impart their vision on the world for a meaningful length of time, etc. Clearly, they were great leaders for a time, at least, though lacking any redeeming integrity. On the other hand, the “great” leaders who do/did possess integrity and, thus, changed the world for the better are the people we admire and consider “great.”

Thus, I conclude that integrity is not really necessary to lead people nor to lead people “greatly.” After all, does Kim Jong-Il, the long-time leader of North Korea and the leader of a regime that has enslaved hundreds of thousands of people in slave camps, possess integrity? But he is most certainly a leader, and, alas, a great but evil leader.

Secondly, I don’t even know if I agree with the proposition that there is any ONE, single attribute that is most important in leadership. For example, I’m not able to pick out the most salient skill among the following attributes and requirements for successful leadership: the ability to communicate, the ability to think through a plan, craft a strategy, organize a team, and marshal the necessary resources so as to implement a vision; the quality of empathy; the possession of an innate understanding of human nature and the consequent normal responses to typical situations; the ability to inspire individuals to set aside parochial interests in the pursuit of a common, higher goal; personal charisma and charm; courage; setting the personal example in all areas/matters. And I am sure I’ve left out other ingredients.

And, lastly, I’m still stuck thinking about your last sentence on whether integrity is in an “either/or” trait – as in, you have it or you don’t. The only either/or situation of which I am aware that is indisputable is the computer machine language that underlies software code – nothing but billions of “off” or “on” switches. Is the quality of integrity the same as this? Would that imply some level of perfection? Maybe it’s me?! I would like to believe that I possess integrity and/or a level of integrity, but I admit I have done things that I regret deeply, that I wish could change, and which I would not want to disclose to any but my most closest friends.

Anyway, I’m still thinking about all of this … all because of your well-chosen post. Have a great day! “Great”, of course, in the sense of happy and fulfilling!

This post was mentioned on Twitter by MGRecruiter: [New Post] Tough Decisions and the Fork in the Road – via @twitoaster http://toast.tw/10085l...