If there was an Oscar award for the most versatile alloy in the sparkling world of metallurgy, it would be definitely won by Steel. The modern world of technological revolution owes a lot to this alloy. Its usage is ubiquitous in all types of applications like buildings, infrastructure, tools, ships, trains, machines, and the like. Steel is an alloy of Iron and Carbon. Iron is considered as the base metal. Carbon is the primary alloyant. Many other alloyants are added to steel to impart specific properties like hardness, toughness, tensile strength, and so on. Although the carbon percentage may vary from only 0.1 % to 2 % generally, it has a major impact on the hardenability and strength of Steel.
Taking a cue from the metallurgical world, Leadership is like a Steel alloy, when it comes to transactions in our personal and professional lives. Contrary to popular belief, Leadership is associated with neither title nor power. A true leader is not bothered about the count of followers. He or she is one who keeps following up with people, just with the sole intention of enabling them to unlock their talents in a given field. One of the most important alloyants of Leadership is ‘INTEGRITY ‘.
Integrity and Honesty are often used interchangeably. But there is a very important difference between them. Honesty is being truthful, when one does not have a choice. But, if one is truthful, even when one has a choice of lying, then it is known as ‘Integrity’. In simple terms, Integrity is displaying honesty at the moment of choice. Let us take 2 examples to nail the differences clearly.
Example 1
Tom, a school teenager along with his classmates, sees a ten-dollar bill lying on the floor. If he hands it over to the teacher, then Tom is said to be honest. Tom’s classmate, Jerry sees a ten-dollar bill, when nobody else is there in the classroom. Yet, he meets the teacher and hands it over so that it can be given to its rightful owner. Here, Jerry is displaying Integrity.
Example 2
In the year 2005, American tennis great Andy Roddick was playing Fernando Verdasco of Spain in an Italian open match in Rome. Roddick was on match point. The chair umpire ruled a double fault and awarded the match to Roddick. Only Roddick knew that Verdasco’s serve was in, from the mark on the clay court. He made the Chair umpire overrule his earlier decision and gave the point to his opponent. It so happened that Verdasco started playing very well thereafter and went on to win that match. But Roddick also was a great winner that day. He had won the hearts of millions of tennis professionals and fans with his powerful display of Integrity.
Being honest without being integral indicates a weak Leader. Displaying Integrity at all times is the hallmark of a strong, inspiring Leader in any walk of life.
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