A wise man once said, "Integrity has no need of rules." Think about that for a minute. Rules are designed to keep behavior in order. If someone has strong character and lives with integrity, the rules are ultimately unnecessary. That person will act with consistency along with their values.
As a manager, I try not to micro manage my people and overload them with a lot of "rules." They know where I stand and what I expect from them for our team to be successful. As a leader, I realize that people have to grow into their values and learn to be accountable not just to me but to their own character. It is important to give people a certain amount of freedom, as well as the responsibilities that go with it, to allow them to grow. If they develop an inner life committed to honor and integrity, they have no need of my rules or anyone else's. They live from the core of who they have become.
That applies not only to people we lead but to ourselves. We need to live with both freedom and responsibility. We need to decide what our true values are, things like: inner courage, wisdom, a sense of duty, a commitment to something larger than ourselves and through all that we grow into ourselves and those values. The character that results is ultimately what assures success for us and for our relationships. That is the glue that holds individuals together. It creates a bond of trust and of accountability.
Companies often put a higher priority on character than on competence because they know someone who functions from their integrity will be free to focus on the overall goal without having character issues getting in the way. Instead of spending time correcting bad behavior, they will be able to move forward to the common goal. Strong character creates trust within any group of people and develops a bond like no other.
"Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1
As a manager, I try not to micro manage my people and overload them with a lot of "rules." They know where I stand and what I expect from them for our team to be successful. As a leader, I realize that people have to grow into their values and learn to be accountable not just to me but to their own character. It is important to give people a certain amount of freedom, as well as the responsibilities that go with it, to allow them to grow. If they develop an inner life committed to honor and integrity, they have no need of my rules or anyone else's. They live from the core of who they have become.
That applies not only to people we lead but to ourselves. We need to live with both freedom and responsibility. We need to decide what our true values are, things like: inner courage, wisdom, a sense of duty, a commitment to something larger than ourselves and through all that we grow into ourselves and those values. The character that results is ultimately what assures success for us and for our relationships. That is the glue that holds individuals together. It creates a bond of trust and of accountability.
Companies often put a higher priority on character than on competence because they know someone who functions from their integrity will be free to focus on the overall goal without having character issues getting in the way. Instead of spending time correcting bad behavior, they will be able to move forward to the common goal. Strong character creates trust within any group of people and develops a bond like no other.
"Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1
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