Integrity:

What it means: 

Integrity means owning our words and respecting them. Leaders who demonstrate integrity in all their interactions have a higher chance of success. Leadership starts from within, so take responsibility for yourself and follow the right way despite the difficulties.

Why it matters:

Being a leader, the way you behave is watched. You will set an example for your followers, and they will follow it accordingly. That's why leaders should consistently demonstrate ethical behaviour to their employees. Leaders have many different responsibilities that require them to be honest with themselves before being open about their thoughts or feelings. This may seem difficult in some situations, but as long as they own up to what they do right or wrong, this can make all the difference in leadership positions.

Tips for practising integrity:

• Don't take credit for someone else's work.

• Keep promises to clients or customers.

• Speak well of others, even if they are not doing what you would.

• Take responsibility for mistakes and apologise sincerely when appropriate.

• Admit when you don't know something rather than pretending to be an expert on the topic.

• Be punctual and always show up on time for work.

• Respect your coworkers - don't gossip about them or talk badly about their skills to others.

• Stay professional at all times, even when you're not working - this includes how you dress, what you say, and who your friends are.

• Show up to meetings on time and prepared.