By Michael Holland –
Bobby Jones was a very honest man. Extremely honest. Tons and tons of integrity.
He didn’t have to tell people he was honest or that he had integrity.
Because he behaved in ways that revealed his integrity.
Long story short, Bobby Jones was playing in a critical golf tournament. Golf being golf with all its rules, Bobby at one point moved the head of his club over the grass near where his ball lay. He saw the ball move ever so slightly but no one else saw it.
After his shot and when he caught up to his opposing player, he told the player of the penalty shot he was taking because of the rules infraction. The player and golfing officials at the tournament pleaded with Bobby not to take the penalty basically because it was so minor and no one else witnessed it.
But for Bobby there was no middle ground.
And that one stroke ended up meaning he tied in the tournament for first place. In a subsequent playoff, he lost to the opposing player.
For Bobby there was no middle ground. Nor was there any question of the character he revealed.
Integrity. As leaders, we are in the position which reveals our true traits. No matter what words we say – or are printed in those nifty mission and values statements – our character is revealed in our behaviors and the ways in which we lead.
Let’s all try to be more like a Bobby Jones type leader.
[Learn more about Bobby Jones]
Coaching Thoughts – For You and Your Peers
- Have you worked for or with someone who is lacking in integrity, honesty? How did that feel?
- How would you grade the integrity of your senior team on a scale of 1 to 10?
- How would your team grade your integrity on the same scale?
