Vol. 38, 2/16/06
Andrea Sullivan and
Deanne Bryce, editors
LeaderStrength Systems, Inc. 2006

Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality
by Dr. Henry Cloud

ReaderStrength Rating: Focus 3
Build 2
Adapt 3
Overall Rating as a leadership resource 3
(Please see "How Do We Evaluate Resources?" in right column)

This unassuming book tells us what many of us have always wanted to hear: that integrity matters in business as it does in all areas of our lives. That who we are as people matters; that being a mature, integrated person can increase our ability to create results at work. It is refreshing and it rings very true. See if you agree....

The author identifies 3 essential qualities people must have to be successful in their work:
1. Mastery of a set of competencies,
2. Being an alliance builder, and
3. Having the character to not screw it up!

Needless to say, it is this last one that most people do not have! By character, Cloud means much more than simply being an ethical person. He is including a wide variety of traits and ways of being that compose what he calls the "integrated character."

The six dimensions of character that he sees as essential are:
1. Creating and maintaining trust
2. Being able to see and face reality
3. Working in a way that brings results
4. Embracing negative realities and solving them
5. Causing growth and increase
6. Achieving transcendence and meaning in life.

The author describes each of these characteristics in depth, providing dimensions plus several stories that illustrate how the presence and absence of each quality can impact business results.

For example, the dimension of "embracing negative realities and solving them" is further divided into:
Recoverability: Following a negative emotional event, successful people quickly recover motivation, hope, drive, judgment and proactivity to continue progress forward.

Separation from results: High achievers don't derive their sense of who they are from the outcome of their performance; therefore, they are able to objectively look at their performance for purposes of improvement.

Ownership: Leaders take ownership of results and don't excuse themselves or blame others. Successful people don't care about "fault" – they focus on solving problems.

Productive Confrontation: Integrated people are willing and able to effectively confront problems and obstacles in ways that work. They don't "tolerate" or settle for less than what they want.

Letting the Bad Stuff Go: Successful leaders know they are imperfect, so they are able to forgive, forget, and grow from mistakes and bad judgments.

No Pain, No Gain: Integrated people do not see pain as something to be avoided, but as a necessary price to pay for what they want. They know that shortcuts just make it hard later, and they're willing to do hard part first to make it better – and easier – later.

Dr. Cloud tells the story of a CEO friend who was talking with him before going on a long trip. The CEO said he was facing a week of difficult conversations because he had some relational issues he needed to resolve before he could leave. Cloud noted that his friend used intentional language, including that he needed to "face" and "lean into" these problems. He did not avoid the conversations, he did not wait for events to bring up the necessity for them, he did not procrastinate hoping it would not be necessary. He actively sought the conversations so he could resolve the issues involved. Cloud explains that successful people embrace problems and negatives because their perspective is that it will be a good thing in the end. It leads to successful resolutions rather than ongoing issues that only grow to be even worse.

This book is filled with gems – wonderful stories that show real-life situations where a person's character made a big difference in their performance and business results. We thoroughly agree with the premise and points in the book – who we are matters in all aspects of our lives, including our performance at work. We can, and indeed must, integrate our being with our drive for success.

Recommendation

We recommend the book for the information it provides and the wonderful stories that give practical, real-life perspectives. We have to advise, however, that the book is not well structured. It flows as a rambling conversation, and the author does not tie his points together. We say this so you are aware of it. We do recommend the book, however, as it is so very refreshing and enlightening to see how integrity and profit can go hand-in-hand.

Copyright 2006, LeaderStrength Systems, Inc. 630 Freedom Business Center , Suite 300 * King of Prussia , PA 19406

dbryce@leaderstrength.com • LeaderStrength Systems Inc.

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