Lesson: The importance of integrity

Of course integrity is a

Of course integrity is a must. If employees don't have it, they weren't properly screened in the interview process.

But more important is for the leadership to have impeccable integrity and lead by example. If the integrity of the leadership is questionable, the employees will likely follow suit or leave.

Making it clear what level of integrity is expected comes from not so much policy (which is a cop out) but pure leadership. Actions of the leadership will have more effect on how employees behave than any silly policy which tells employees how they are 'supposed' to behave... chances are they already know how they are 'supposed' to behave.

Creating a culture of integrity by way of your own actions will make it safe for them to behave with integrity as well.

Bill Thanks for your

Bill Thanks for your views.
The analogy I gave was applicable to government service organization where
people look at you like a public leader.
In a typical corporation (my present job) what you say is right.
Relationship between a leader & followers is "need based ".
Followers may abandon a leader as he is no more a "rising star" & does not
help their career interest any more to be loyal to him. Equally true a
leader may let down a follower as the leader consider him "more of a liability"
or "spent force".
Leader should not carry piggy back any follower nor expect eternal loyalty.
So also a follower should not ask for paternalism nor show religious loyalty
to a leader. each one is on his own.

"People follow leaders

"People follow leaders because the leader can take them places they can’t go on their own. And if you violate that trust, people won’t follow you anymore."

Speaking at least of general corporate environments - certainly at least in mid- to larger-sized ones - you and apparently many others greatly overesimate the importance of integrity in a "leader" (presuming this means people in upper mgt). Most people only care in as much as it impacts their position/pay/life. They couldn't care less about "following you," whatever that means. They will usually follow whatever keeps them gainfully employed and/or moving ahead.

This is not a General in battle we are talking about, and any such analogies are frankly weak. As in most other areas of our society, corporate integrity is something provided lip service only and is a seriously wounded animal which is slowly (?) bleeding to death. Heck - in the corporate world it's probably more like dead, buried, and the flowers on the grave are wilting.

It reminds me of what new

It reminds me of what new recruits are taught at National Defense Academy , India.

1. Nation’s Honour comes first
2. The safety & security of the men whom you command comes next
3. Your own ease & comfort comes last

Arguably people don't leave

Arguably people don't leave their core. They are shaped by the very things that you mention. The trouble is not the leaving of the core, but the core eventually coming back to haunt the person in leadership. The leader has to recognize that they have an integrity issue and deal with it. Self-recognition is arguably the hardest thing to do. A third-party probably easily recognizes where we have weaknesses but it can be hard to ask peers what our blemishes are.

Insightful thoughts. My only

Insightful thoughts. My only disagreement is this: true leaders aren't followed because they take people to where they can't go on their own. They give people the tools and help them see that they can get there on their own.