Every once in a while you run across a book or find a book
that really affects you. I found this in Henry Cloud's book
'Integrity', so much so that I taught a whole ethics class
based on it. That class was exceptionally well received and
many of the students decided to write a letter to Dr. Cloud
thanking him for his insights. Here is a summary of what a
reader can find and learn about Integrity in Henry Cloud's
book.
Henry Cloud discusses the many challenges posed to
institutions today. Strength is a condition precedent to
achieving goals. Oddly enough, many people hit performance
ceilings which are below their aptitude. Occasionally,
employees succeed and fail almost simultaneously. Despite
the travail, it is important to establish trust through
having heart and real passion for the job. Tough problems
are resolved in an organization by focusing on them
dispassionately and applying an interactive and disciplined
approach consistently until successful resolution is
reached.
Avoidance can be very destructive because opportunities do
surface. A disciplined approach will provide the necessary
focus to seize opportunities when they arise and resolve
problems constructively with a minimum of organizational
tension. This is also very supplemental with the
Performance IQ® system used in my company to assess the
aptitude of performance across the workforce of the
organization. Based on that knowledge, interventions, like
coaching and training, can be planned, targeted towards one
or more of the twelve drivers we assess and then
implemented utilizing modern learning methods.
Dr. Cloud makes it clear that "integrity," as he uses the
term, is much more than mere "honesty." Throughout the book
he separates and illuminates six essential qualities and
character traits that lead to success in the business
world. He describes the desirable character that . . .
1) Creates and maintains trust
2) Is able to see and face reality
3) Works in a way that brings results
4) Embraces negative realities and solves them
5) Causes growth and increase
6) Achieves transcendence and meaning in life
The six dimensions are well sequenced and are interrelated.
Ignorance or failure of one dimension can lead to overall
nonperformance. The "gap" in a person who lacks the
wholeness of character is bound to result in failure in
three specific ways: (page 38):
1. Hitting performance ceiling that is much lower than ones
aptitude
2. Hitting an obstacle or situation that derails you
3. Reaching great success only to self destruct and lose it
all.
"You will see how these character traits supersede gifts,
talents and ability, and how the ones who have them succeed
and the ones who don't, ultimately fail." (Page xii) In
talking with a wealthy businessman who is a personal
friend, Dr. Cloud heard his friend comment on how he
chooses to invest his money in businesses.
"I did not invest in those businesses. I invested in the
people. I never invest in businesses I don't know anything
about, but I will invest in a person. If I know their
character, their history, how they operate, what kind of
judgment they have, what kinds of risks are acceptable to
them, how they execute, and things like that, and I know
them well, I will invest. But I don't buy businesses I
don't know anything about." (Pages 29-30)
Early in this book, Dr. Cloud gives us his expanded
definition of integrity as it applies to the business world:
"And, the origins of the word we can see in the French and
Latin meanings of intact, integrate, integral and entirety.
The concept means that the `whole thing is working well,
undivided, integrated, intact and uncorrupted.' When we are
talking about integrity, we are talking about being a whole
person, an integrated person, with all of our different
parts working well and delivering the functions that they
were designed to deliver. It is about wholeness and
effectiveness as people. It truly is `running on all
cylinders.'" (Page 31)
The author offers a very clear and helpful metaphor for the
type of impact that this kind of person of integrity has on
the lives of those with whom she or he interacts. Dr. Cloud
posits that each of us, as we move through the waters of
life, leave behind a wake, like that left by boats as they
pass through the ocean. There are two aspects to the "wake"
that we leave behind - the tasks we have performed and the
relationships we have built. "We leave a wake of people
behind us as we move though their lives and their
organizations. . .
So, we must ask ourselves, `What does that wake look like?'
Are a lot of people out there water-skiing on the wake,
smiling, having a great time for our having `moved through
their lives'? Or are they are there bobbing for air,
bleeding, and left wounded as shark bait?" (Page 18)
In Building Trust Through Connections, Cloud offers:
"The human heart will seek to be known, understood, and
connected with above all else. If you do not connect, the
ones you care about will find someone who will." (Page 70)
Applying this principle alone in most companies today would
dramatically reduce the costs of employee theft, turnover,
recruiting, retention and succession planning. In the
chapter `In touch with reality" Dr Cloud starts with the
story of the CEO of a dog food company who obstinately
tries all possible ways to increase the sales of the
company's product except in finding out what his ultimate
customers really want. When finally explained to the CEO by
an employee "Sir... the dogs don't like it", reality
finally dawns. Dogs bark, but reality bites!
In sharing What People In Touch Look like, Dr. Cloud
recounts an incident that happened on a retreat for CEO's,
when a young "superstar" was given an opportunity to
receive feedback from a more senior CEO.
"One of the more experienced guys looked up and said, `Want
some feedback?' He said it in a way that left you wondering
whether he was going to give sage advice or rail at the
young man for being out to lunch in some way. There was
just no way to tell from his poker face. But I will never
forget the young superstar's immediate response: `By all
means. Give me a gift.' He saw the feedback, whatever it
was, as a gift because it could give him some reality that
he did not know. I remember thinking, `We will be watching
this guy's accomplishments for a long time.'" (Page 116)
Cloud then ratchets up the significance of this insight by
suggesting a challenging way for us to put this principle
of inviting feedback to a practical test: "If you want to
know your comfort level in this matter, think of going to
the people you work with or are in close personal
relationships with and give them 100 percent permission to
be totally honest with you in answering the question: `What
is it like to be on the other end of me?'" (Pages 116-117)
Most business leaders I know will find something of value
in this book that they can internalize and begin to apply
immediately - for their own benefit and for the benefit of
all those who are "surfing their wake."
----------------------------------------------------
Axel Meierhoefer is a published author, educator, coach,
consultant, and the founder of Axel Meierhoefer Consulting
LLC (AMC LLC). His motto is" Helping others help themselves
achieve success". If you would like to be notified of
future articles go to http://www.meierhoefer.net/blog or
send an email to AM@Meierhoefer.net
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