But do you do what you say you will?

Are you the type that says one thing and does another? Do you often reschedule appointments because something has come up? Do you get information to people after the day and time you said you would?

I know this manager who I will call Rock - he is full of flaws, like we all are. But he would be one of the first people I would recruit if I were starting up a new company or needed a great manager at an existing company. Why? He has integrity.

Integrity: Doing what you say you will. Being who you said you would be.

A lot of people tangle up a lot of moral stuff in their definitions of the word integrity. I think integrity means keeping your promises. Doing what you say would, being the type of person you said you would be.

It's Monday morning. Are their unfinished items from last week? Make a list of all the things you said you would do, but have not. Do these things or renegotiate them. Beware of renegotiating meetings and task deadlines too many times because if you do this often you will become know as a flake and unreliable.

Rock is a great manager because he does what he says and you can take his promises to the bank. He gets things done. And he has the same last minute things pop up as others do - we all have interruptions to our days and four-hour meetings called at the last minute. But Rock still delivers.

Great managers do what others don't or won't.

Are you a Rock in your workplace or a flake?

Comments

[Rosa Say]

I agree with you Lisa: The definition for integrity is not complicated at all, yet people can get awfully tangled up in living the part they play in it!

I would add the question, "Why not do it early?" Procrastination can be a huge additive... it makes complex issues out of tasks that started out relatively simple.

[Beth Ziesenis]

Some things I tackle right away, but I have these to do items I call "dregs." And they sit. And sit. And I can't figure out why I keep putting them off.

[Lisa Haneberg]

Rosa - Yes, you have risen the bar fro integrity to Rock Star.

Beth - And realize that wondering why you put certain things off is just another way to put things off! :-)

[Wally Bock]

Congratulations, Lisa! This post was selected as one of the five best business blog posts of the week in my Three Star Leadership Midweek Review of the Business Blogs.

http://blog.threestarleadership.com/2008/04/23/42308-a-midweek-look-at-the-business-blogs.aspx

Wally Bock

[Lisa Haneberg]

Thanks, Wally!