Competencies, Leveraging & the Integrity To Not Screw It Up!
It has been over ten years ago now I first read “Integrity: the courage to meet the demands of reality” by Dr. Henry Cloud which came out in 2006. After reading it, I resolved to make it required reading and conversation if I ever was graced again with employees.
Quoting from his preface, “You have heard all your life that character counts. You have desired integrity in yourself and in the people with whom you work. You have felt its affects, suffered when it is not present, and benefited when it has. You know that it is real.
But, too often, we do not connect the dots with how the integrity of character really works day to day, and how it affects our real results in the areas of life which matter to us most. We do not think that the way to more profits is a shift in our own character makeup, or if we do, we often do not know where to begin. Nor do we know how sometimes how to make personal shifts that will make our relationships more fruitful.
You will see how character traits supercede gifts, talents, and ability, and the ones who don’t, ultimately fail. And, the fun part will be finding that all of us can grow in all of these areas, and that the journey itself is of great value. So, join me in that journey, as we look at how Integrity is the courage to meet the demands of reality.”
Dr. Cloud begins Chapter One by telling how a friend of his out of her concern for her two twenty some year old sons, asked if he would take her two sons out for lunch and talk to them about success. They had been asking numerous questions about how some people become so successful making it ‘big.’ Perhaps he could give them some guidance since they were in the asking mode. Dr. Cloud replied likely not, since that really wasn’t his field. But she kept coming back with the likes of “you’ve worked with a lot of successful people. Just take them out and tell them something. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just give them somethings to think about.”
So, thinking he had been perhaps too dismissive, Dr Cloud relented and finally agreed to lunch, which instantly fired this mother on a mission up, and she would then not quit hounding him until he would tell her what his three points would be to her sons. Though the process weaves through pages, I’ll boil them down to succinctly this. People who become leaders , or really successful tend to have three qualities.
Number One: They have some set of competencies. They know their field, their industry, their discipline, or whatever. You can only fake it so long boys, so your get yourself in the library, the internet, or wherever and master your craft.
Number Two: Besides, skills they have to be what I call an alliance builder. In other words, they have to take their competencies and what they do well and build alliances with others who have competencies and resources and form relationships that are mutually beneficial. As a result, they leverage what they do well to much greater heights than just being ‘good’ at their job. They forge relationships and partnerships with people like investors , regulators, distribution centers, their boards, city governments, Wall Street, or whoever it is that has the capacity to make whatever they are doing bigger.
Number Three: “Then I would tell them that they need to understand that the people who possess the first two abilities are a dime a dozen. There is no shortage of talented, brainy people who are very, very good at what they do and are equally able to work the system and schmooze other people to get things done. But if your boys are truly going to make it, they need the third ingredient as well: They have to have the character to not screw it up. That is what I think I will them if you have to know right now.”
Personally now, looking back soon to be fifty years since college graduation, I may be tempted to think my vision of those early years is now twenty-twenty. I particularly know exactly when I didn’t default by accident, or simply made a mistake, because I deliberately chose on numerous occasions as I have heard it said already, “with my eyes wide-open,” knowing exactly when I didn’t possess the needed ‘character’ for the situation at hand, and consequently, I most certainly did totally screw it up. See now why this book is so personal to me?
About five years ago I was compelled to give a copy of this book, Integrity, to a businessman I had never met, but I knew firsthand he had some very difficult decisions to make, similar to those facing the Dell CEO Michael S Dell and President Kevin B Rollins after the global crash in PC sales after 2001. Business Week magazine in its November 3, 2003 reported the following:
“When Dell and Rollins met privately in the fall of 2001, they were confident that the company was recovering from the global crash in PC sales. Their own personal performance, however, was another matter. Internal reviews revealed that subordinates thought Dell, 38, was impersonal and emotionally detached, while Rollins, 50, was seen as autocratic and antagonistic. Few felt strong loyalty to the company’s leaders. Worse, the discontent was spreading: a survey taken over the summer, following the company’s first-ever mass layoffs, found half of Dell Inc.’s employees would leave if they had the chance.
What happened next says much about why Dell is the best-managed company in technology at the moment. At other industry giants, the CEO and his chief sidekick might have shrugged off the criticism or let the issue slide. Not at Dell. Fearing an exodus of talent, the two execs focused on the gripes. Within two weeks, Dell faced his top 20 managers and offered a frank self-critique, acknowledging that he is hugely shy and that it sometimes makes him seem aloof and unapproachable. He vowed to forge tighter bonds with his team. Some in the room were shocked. They knew personality tests given to key execs had repeatedly shown Dell to be an “off-the-charts introvert,” and such an admission from him had to have been painful. “It was powerful stuff,” says Brian Wook, the head of the public sector sales for the Americas. “You could tell it wasn’t easy for him.”
Michael Dell didn’t stop there. Days later, they began showing a video tape of his talk to every manager in the company – several thousand people. Then Dell and Rollins adopted desk props to do what didn’t come naturally. A plastic bulldozer cautioned Dell not to ram through ideas without including others, and a Curious George encouraged Rollins to listen to his team before making up his mind.”
Listen to some of the actual words there: Impersonal, emotionally detached, autocratic, antagonistic, loyalty, focused on the gripes, shy, aloof, unapproachable, tighter bonds, including others, listen to his team. These are not usually the things you hear in in business and success training, but they are things of reality. No matter how huge the success that Dell’s talents, brains, competencies, and alliances brought about, there was still this thing that was the overflow from a person’s makeup, his integrity, and his courage to meet the current demands of his reality.
As was told in Point Number Three to the boys, ultimately we all have to pay attention to it, because attention will be given to it. Attention from half a workforce willing to leave a company if they had the opportunity merits a lot of attention! It is better if we do it proactively as Michael Dell did. Don’t we wish all CEO’s would heed that kind of feedback and take those kinds of bold steps, or how about politicians, pastors, spouses, or parents? It would solve a lot of problems.
Dr Cloud goes on to say “The reality to see here is that this stuff matters. Connecting with others in a way that makes them feel understood and valued is key to life and the basis of building trust and loyalty. From that base, everything else works. To do that requires the kind of character that is oriented towards others and makes proactive connections with them in a way that builds bonds.
I suggest you read again and ponder Dr Cloud’s three points for the mother on a mission for her two sons. In fact, when I read this book and these three points (gaining competencies, leveraging & being an alliance builder, & then, the integrity not to screw it up) I am visualizing how I can utilize them in “Living & Building the Kingdom of God,” my churches motto or mission statement. Sadly, I’m not so sure today that many church members ever think of applying these three points to their faith when it is exactly what is required of his followers. Read the Gospels and Pauline passages, especially I & II Peter for similar marching orders!
Perhaps you ask “To do what?” Begin by considering your own kids or perhaps your grand’s. Or the college grad that just moved back in with his folks next door. Perhaps that grad is you, or perhaps you’re the parents with the grad upstairs again. Realize opportunities to meet the current demands of your realities are always awaiting you, whether within or outside your family.
May I suggest, for a change of perspective, just once, you forget all about yourself and look around you. Who can you take an interest in, offer wisdom , but most of all, just offer your willingness to listen, really listen. Perhaps you first need to start with your spouse, or one of your children, then an uncle, or a niece. Such opportunities abound. Don’t be shy. Get inspired! Read or listen to Andy Andrew’s book “The Noticer” to prime your pump. Likely a good idea if you seek His guidance first or your attempt may not end well. He’s been waiting for you to ask for His help. Apparently, exceptional intellect is not required; inspiration and obedience though, are usually in short supply as is prayer and scripture reading. Forget the foxhole mentality; do both for their pure enjoyment before the bombing starts.
Next blog post we’ll learn how Dell has fared since the Business Week article in 2003 until today. Did Michael Dell’s integrity, his courage to meet the current demands of his reality, actually serve him well?
Don’t forget that for Christ’s Mission Possible, it is all about gaining competencies, leveraging & being an alliance builder, & then, the integrity not to screw it up!
Blessings on your journey home>>>>merlin