Do leaders have an obligation to be honest when they morally screw up?

Integrity is in short supply these days among big company and government leaders (big surprise isn’t it?) In fact it’s an issue with “larger than life” sports figures as well (I am full of surprises this morning). Tiger Wood’s recent debacle got me thinking, when leaders morally screw up do they have an obligation to be honest? Now, I don’t want to debate whether Tiger Wood’s is a leader or not because I think he was (wink, wink with an emphasis on was). However, why does it seem that honesty is the best policy only when people get caught? I have heard celebrities, caddies, fans and others say “everyone makes mistakes.” Or Tiger is taking accountability for his actions. I have seen a few big corporate sponsors take action. But I wonder why the symphony of sympathy is always played in defense of others when they get caught? Wasn’t this more than a onetime mistake? And I wonder if sponsors would have been so quick to pull back if these indiscretions were not widely known; of course not.

Okay, time to get on my high horse a little – heehaw. I am tired of “leaders” taking the easy path to forgiveness (and I am talking about corporate as well as government leaders). If you lack integrity, you no longer have the right to lead – period. Be honest or else give up the reigns (remember I am on my high horse) to lead. If you lack integrity you have already eroded trust and the ability to inspire people (unless your morally deplete yourself). So the question is, do leaders have an obligation to be honest when they morally screw up? Of course they do. But they have a much bigger obligation to be honest before the screw up! It’s called integrity.

Mike Rogers

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Comments

[Melissa]

This has been on my mind of late, so much that I had looked up quotes. This one really hit home with me: "Integrity is doing the right thing, even if nobody is watching." It has been attributed to Jim Stovall. Would be nice if more people lived by this thought...

[Mike Rogers]

Thank Melissa. That has always been my definition of integrity as well. Doing the right thing for the right reason, even though nobody may notice or be watching.

[Mlewsimpson51]

Pretty self-righteous stuff here, eh? "If you lack integrity, you no longer have the right to lead – period." Don't we recognize in the failings of others ... our own weaknesses? Who among us has not sinned? Told a lie, large or small? Taken a shortcut? I think it's a uniquely American hypocrisy to deny the animal, the darkness, that resides within each of us. You don't find this SHOCK and DISAPPOINTMENT in other nations and cultures ... they recognize how fragile is morality, humanity, righteousness and purity. And that backsliding is normal, and therefore repentance must be frequent. Amen.

[Mike Rogers]

"Mlewsimpson51," I wouldn't disagree with you that repentance must be frequent, but forgiveness and forgetfulness are two different things in my opinion. And I am not talking here about small indiscretions. A person who lacks integrity (by lying, cheating, stealing etc...) will lack the trust of their followers. Do you really feel they can be all that effective any way?

[S. L. Dean]

It is difficult to define what ethical and integrity means nowadays when the media is constantly bombarding us with examples of convenience or circumstantial values. Ethics and integrity have become cloaked, in my opinion, with a lot of grey matter. There is honor among theives, yet they are still theives!I expect Tiger to stay on top of his game of golf and elected officials and those sworn to uphold certain standards, values and laws to honor their responsibilities, without exceptions. I would like to see thieves become honorable people!

[Michael]

I think there is a difference between making an honest mistake and making bad ethical decisions.

I can follow a leader who makes a mistake, owns it, takes corrective action and moves forward.

What I can not call a leader is a person who makes bad ethical decisions and expects others to be impressed by them.

We all have know persons like this in our careers and wonder how they stay in business (let alone succeed). Part of that is others seeing the end result, meaning success in sales etc and either not seeing the process or looking the other way so long as the ends meet the needs.

[bilbo]

We all make mistakes. Some of us even make really big and stupid ones. It's small minded and overly simplistic to think that all offenders fall into the same exact category and should be hung out to dry for their actions.

People are far more complex than that, and their motivations and reasons for doing things extend back to the time they emerged from the womb. It's more than a bit arrogant to imply you have intelligence enough to judge a person for their actions when you know absolutely nothing about them beyond "the dirt" that is so fun for everyone to hear about when they are exposed.

I like to believe that people are basically good and sometimes lose sight of what is most important until they are caught and sharply reminded of that. There's nothing more inspiring than seeing a person overcome a problem to become better, stronger, and happier.

[Erik]

We need to remember that we are witnessing a generation that watched a President have an extramarital affair, state to the nation that he did not have sexual relations with an intern, and continued to lead the nation.

Values, much less morality, are not what they used to be. There are bound to be consequences.

As for Tiger, I can't believe how stupid he was. Do you think it was worth it?

[Mike Rogers]

Wow, great comments everyone. Thank you so much. This has been a great discussion.

Erik, you are right, we have kind of accepted that type of behavior. Though many did not witness it as much as we have with the advent of media. This type of behavior has happened for generations, just wasn't exposed. In answer to your last question, it's never worth it.

But Bilbo, I agree. Mistakes do happen. And I am not referring to mistakes made in ignorance or even just a fleeting moment of stupidity. I am talking about mistakes that erode any sense of right or wrong due to the continual justifications for the bad behavior. I don't agree that it is necessarily inspiring, for me any way, to witness someone overcome infidelity. What I see as inspiring is people overcoming adversity with great courage and continuing to lead with integrity.

Michael, I agree that there are honest mistakes. But it is a bit of an oxymoron when that mistake is something blatantly dishonest. I personally chose to admire greatness in those who stick to high levels of integrity and lead with honest courage. But I do agree with you, I have no respect whatsoever for leaders who are impressed with their bad behavior and even flaunt it.

S.L. Dean, I am all for thieves becoming honorable people. I just don't know if I could ever trust them to lead.

- Mike

[Bonita (Bonnie) Lay]

Yes we need to be honest and own up! We have lost our moral compass where everything and anything goes. Ask a kid who had to pay for a window he broke from their allowance....I bet that kid has a healthy respect for the environment. Ask a kid who had to repay for stolen candy or goods. I bet they don't steal. I'll respect those who own their mistakes, MAKE RESTITUTION, and can move on not to repeat their mistakes....Learn from them.

[mark]

Permit me to share one thought. At the beginning of this thread no definition of integrity was offered. Melissa subsequently offered a quote that implied an important part of integrity is consistency (doing the "right" thing whether someone is watching or not), but we still lack a common definition. In that circumstance it is no surprise that claims of hypocrisy and arrogance have been raised.

It seems worth considering the following:
* We all make mistakes (take actions that are destructive to ourselves or others)
* Some of those mistakes are the result of ignorance, while others are the result of weakness (choosing to do other than what we believe to be right)
* Trust is a vital part of any community because it allows people to make assumptions and move forward rather than verifying everything ahead of time each time
* Trust is eroded somewhat when an individual makes a choice or takes an action inconsistent with expectations of those around them
* The degree to which trust is eroded is dependent upon 1) the degree of destructiveness perceived in the action and 2) the degree to which the destrutive behavior is perceived to be a pattern.

With this in mind it is possible for Michael Rogers to feel that TW's behavior lacks integrity AND for mlewsimpson & bilbo to feel strongly that sin is a continuing component of life.

Yes, people make "mistakes" and sin (not always the same thing). Integrity does not require a "no strikes" rule. It simply says that when you do choose poorly, consistency suggests that your behavior will be more revealing than your words. Do you hide your sins to avoid embarassment? Or do you come clean to the people that matter (yourself, your wife, your God)?

[Philip Hall]

miewsimpson51 wrote "You don't find this SHOCK and DISAPPOINTMENT in other nations and cultures ... they recognize how fragile is morality, humanity, righteousness and purity." I don't think that other nations (outside the US) are so different, but their definition of integrity or the boundaries applied to it are different. I have lived in Asia for almost 2 decades - everyone knows that most politicians take bribes, that companies buy contracts, that many men (rich or poor) have mistresses so people would look on the sins of Clinton, Woods et al with a different viewpoint. Morality changes over time becoming stronger (Victorian England or modern-day US) or weaker (swinging sixties) but no matter what the strength everyone seems to agree that a degree of repentance must be shown when someone is caught out. A British politician caught having an affair may resign from the cabinet but be back a few years later, Clinton had to publicly abase himself but was able to continue. Tiger has publicly "come clean" but his minor efforts have not impressed his sponsors and while the public may forgive him his wife seems certain not to.
Integrity is a broad topic, seen differently wherever we are, but we are still part of the global village and those with authority will always have to be seen to be cleaner than clean.

[Charles]

There is no integrity in big business. I was fired for having my integrity intact. They make you sign documents that you will have integrity for everything you do, but when it gets done to it they want you to lie about quality so they can get the product out the door. It come down to money, money and not integrity.