Have you heard about the U.S. Senator and his wife who were recently charged with bribery in New Jersey? In the category of “learning from the mistakes of others,” their actions certainly qualify.  And I’m not talking about politics; the lesson is about integrity.

I will never understand why some people in positions of power do corrupt things. They work their whole lives to land their dream jobs, yet eventually believe they can do whatever they want—even if their actions are illegal and immoral.

Leadership Tip
Never put yourself in a position that challenges your character and integrity.

Regardless of where you are in your leadership journey—at the beginning or already doing your dream job—always possess unwavering character. Remember this: You either have integrity or you don’t; you can’t turn it on or off anytime you want.

As a gut check, reflect on these five questions:

• Do you act with integrity in everything you do?
• Are you always sincere?
• Do you always tell the truth?
• Do you always show respect for the rules?
• Do you ever talk or act hypocritically?

This quote from Zig Ziglar underlines why this lesson is crucial:

“Integrity gives you real freedom, because you have nothing to fear since you have nothing to hide.”