So where does the notion of accountability and integrity meet up with real-life deliverables? By that I mean, it’s all well and good to speak of the need for ethics and morality, but how many times have we seen poor behavior excused because the perpetrator was “talented” or important to the business or some such? You with me?
And there you have it. What’s more important…how do you judge…how do you develop options for behavior that delivers on all fronts – soft and hard; philosophical and business outcome; personal and group – you get the picture…
Seems to me it boils down to what we carry in our core; how we engage across all fronts; what we want to be seen and remembered for – listen to this:
“It is our choices…that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
~J. K. Rowling
And there you have it. Look at how many of the so-called “biggest and best” have fallen – remembered for nothing more than the poor choices they made; the people they hurt; the chaos they left in their wake.
And now think of the flip side – the formerly unsung heroes who did the right thing; made the right choices; maybe didn’t have the profile or the power shot but in the end counted the most.
I know both types – what do you think?
Your J.K. Rowling citation is one of many great quotes from the Harry Potter series. In this quote and others, I think Mrs. Rowling further implies that choices are also better gauges of character than their outcomes. While you correctly state that poor choices can leave chaos in wake, unfortunately good choices sometimes do the same, just as poor choices sometimes lead to splendor. I think it’s important to distinguish that good choices are always good in and of themselves, which is why integrity and good choices should always be hand-in-hand.
I’m thankful to the one who wrote this passage. I always read and write this style of articles. Also, as a daily writer, I present my respects to the all writers. Lately, I have watched a video resembling that in youtube. I research in all areas.
In my opinion, people should research first and write then.
Regards.
I should think it’s the goal of ‘who’ one becomes over ‘what’ they accomplish is a key to maintain integrity in the long run. If those are reversed and the goal of what one accomplishes supersedes who they are then integrity is left to the way side as the individual is encouraged to do whatever necessary in pursuit of prosperity. Whatever the ultimate goal is that you submit to, it will become the standard by which you measure your actions. If success, wealth, prosperity, etc are your ultimate goal then in time integrity is traded for the needs of the moment as dictated by the lore of prosperity. Therefore it seems that there must be a higher goal than prosperity. We as individuals, as a collective group, and as a company must hold site of that and continually fight to make the development of our people and their personal integrity a priority that is held above the short sighted push for profitability.