Integrity
He is an eagle. This young executive possesses the whole package. He is bright, highly competent in his technical skill and has the ability to connect with a wide range of people. His performance has been outstanding and he literally turned around the failing organization that he was directed to lead. Therefore, it was no surprise to me when another company who was interested in hiring him contacted him. They were a large, high-profile firm. The offer, which came with a large increase in pay, benefits and other perks, was a deal he could not refuse. Except that is exactly what he did. He graciously said no.
When I asked him how he came to that decision, he replied: "I know that I have not finished what I came to this organization to do. There are people who are counting on me to finish what I started. I realize that this company will continue to grow and that they could do that without me but I wanted to keep my commitment." When I probed about how he could turn down the money and bigger company he replied, "It's not about the money for me. It is about doing the right thing for both my family and my company."
It is refreshing to know that this young executive was leading from his core value of integrity. What a great reminder and example for us to follow. Leading is not about chasing money, recognition or power. It is about doing the right things for the right reasons.
When we choose to lead from our core values we will make a difference!
