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The Integrity Dividend: Leading by the Power of Your Word
Corporate and government scandals continue to deepen our mistrust of leaders. While credibility is the foundation of effective leadership, most leaders struggle, and sometimes fail, to align their words and their actions. Now for the first time, leadership expert Tony Simons has measured the bottom-line value of business leaders who live by their word and actually do what they say they are going to do. In The Integrity Dividend , Tony Simons shows how leaders? personal integrity drives the profitability and overall success of their organization. This groundbreaking book is based in on solid research and reveals that businesses led by managers of higher integrity enjoy deeper employee commitment, lower turnover, superior customer service, and substantially higher profitability. This improved performance is the integrity dividend . Simons conducted dozens of focus groups, surveyed thousands of employees, collected financial and operational numbers, and interviewed over 100 senior executives and executive coaches. The book lays out the research clearly and provides proven tools for managing common integrity challenges. It offers guidance for building individual credibility and for creating an organizational culture of integrity and accountability. Throughout, Simons uses real-world insight and stories drawn from senior executives, line managers, and coaches. The Integrity Dividend is a fresh view of leadership at a time when it is most needed.
- GenresBusiness
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
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59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 23, 2012
Factual and Motivational
Usually issues like integrity, honesty and ethical conduct are considered things that derive from personal standards and values. Almost every MBA program or advanced degree in business has the obligatory nod in this direction through the inclusion of some form of class on ethics. Through that medium is conveyed the obligatory case studies of Enron and other spectacular failures that testify to the high price paid when corporate greed and expediency rise above basic rules of ethical conduct.
Tony Simons approaches things from a more grass roots and practical direction however. Rather than the abstract appeal to doing right for its own sake that is usually the domain of religion and other moral institutionalize value systems, Simons very simply ties these issues to day to day management and the bottom line.
With very little fanfare and in an organized and scientific manner Simons prefaces the anecdotal presentations that are standard fare for a book of this nature with a study that demonstrates that within the Hotel Service industry there is a direct correlation between the perceived integrity of management and the profitability of a local hotel or chain. In other words, the "street knowledge" that good guys don't get ahead and it's the people willing to cut corners to get the job done who win out in the end, generally is not true and Simon's study statistically demonstrates that issues such as employee morale, vendor trust and customer satisfaction derive in part from a corporate environment that is based in part upon how well these different parties perceive the personal integrity and word of leadership.
From this foundation then, Simons proceeds to share the softer elements turned up in his study in a manner reminiscent of the folksy, chatty type of literature that is standard fare in this genre. What is different however and important to highlight is that Simons has in fact already done the heavy lifting in chapter 1 to show that this is more than mere lip service. A reasonable foundation has been laid that demonstrates that personal integrity, as perceived by these different stakeholders in the Hotel Service industry, ties directly to profitability in a manner that allows of measure of what typically are seen as "soft costs" but in reality are shown to be cumulative and to tie into issues that in fact are hard wired into the process, such as employee retention, vendor willingness to work with extraordinary circumstances right down to customer satisfaction and repeat business even where these background factors aren't usually measured and directly correlated.
Of course, it can be argued that this study is industry specific and these factors perhaps amplified in such an obviously service based industry such as the Hotel and Restaurant focus from which Simons is coming. Simons does an excellent job however of reasonably expanding the base of his study to provide insights and strong cause and effect evidence that extend to where any level of management or leadership in any industry will find value in reading this well written book.
This book is more valuable to the reader than the typical case studies of large scale failures at the high corporate level because it demonstrates in an understandable way how these issues impact your personal effectiveness and your company's bottom line to where a reader will walk away not only motivated but also equipped as to how to bring about change in their personal lives and careers.
5 enthusiastic stars
Bart Breen
Usually issues like integrity, honesty and ethical conduct are considered things that derive from personal standards and values. Almost every MBA program or advanced degree in business has the obligatory nod in this direction through the inclusion of some form of class on ethics. Through that medium is conveyed the obligatory case studies of Enron and other spectacular failures that testify to the high price paid when corporate greed and expediency rise above basic rules of ethical conduct.
Tony Simons approaches things from a more grass roots and practical direction however. Rather than the abstract appeal to doing right for its own sake that is usually the domain of religion and other moral institutionalize value systems, Simons very simply ties these issues to day to day management and the bottom line.
With very little fanfare and in an organized and scientific manner Simons prefaces the anecdotal presentations that are standard fare for a book of this nature with a study that demonstrates that within the Hotel Service industry there is a direct correlation between the perceived integrity of management and the profitability of a local hotel or chain. In other words, the "street knowledge" that good guys don't get ahead and it's the people willing to cut corners to get the job done who win out in the end, generally is not true and Simon's study statistically demonstrates that issues such as employee morale, vendor trust and customer satisfaction derive in part from a corporate environment that is based in part upon how well these different parties perceive the personal integrity and word of leadership.
From this foundation then, Simons proceeds to share the softer elements turned up in his study in a manner reminiscent of the folksy, chatty type of literature that is standard fare in this genre. What is different however and important to highlight is that Simons has in fact already done the heavy lifting in chapter 1 to show that this is more than mere lip service. A reasonable foundation has been laid that demonstrates that personal integrity, as perceived by these different stakeholders in the Hotel Service industry, ties directly to profitability in a manner that allows of measure of what typically are seen as "soft costs" but in reality are shown to be cumulative and to tie into issues that in fact are hard wired into the process, such as employee retention, vendor willingness to work with extraordinary circumstances right down to customer satisfaction and repeat business even where these background factors aren't usually measured and directly correlated.
Of course, it can be argued that this study is industry specific and these factors perhaps amplified in such an obviously service based industry such as the Hotel and Restaurant focus from which Simons is coming. Simons does an excellent job however of reasonably expanding the base of his study to provide insights and strong cause and effect evidence that extend to where any level of management or leadership in any industry will find value in reading this well written book.
This book is more valuable to the reader than the typical case studies of large scale failures at the high corporate level because it demonstrates in an understandable way how these issues impact your personal effectiveness and your company's bottom line to where a reader will walk away not only motivated but also equipped as to how to bring about change in their personal lives and careers.
5 enthusiastic stars
Bart Breen
September 23, 2015
Although this is not a groundbreaking discovery, nevertheless the book Tony Simons, a researcher from one of the best hospitality schools, proved very clearly that integrity (consistency between words and deeds) of a leader has a significant impact on financial outcomes.
Another point was made about company values and mission. As author argues, it is best to keep values as simple as possible and reinforce frequently.
It also turns out that keeping your word involves a host of skills, including active listening skills. Clear communication. Making sure that another person understands the message as you intend. Remembering what you promised.
Keep your word. A strong message, very relevant today.
Another point was made about company values and mission. As author argues, it is best to keep values as simple as possible and reinforce frequently.
It also turns out that keeping your word involves a host of skills, including active listening skills. Clear communication. Making sure that another person understands the message as you intend. Remembering what you promised.
Keep your word. A strong message, very relevant today.
February 15, 2009
Read this for the professional development group I belong to. Given that I'm no joiner, the fact that I even belong to a professional development group does give me pause, but even within the context - - for someone who needs/wants to develop themselves professionally - - I rarely read these books as they seem so dry, boring or obvious. This was a good reminder of the relationship between integrity (not a moral connotation) and credibility. I like the reminder of ownership and accountability, admission of mistakes, transparency and honesty...especially as we enter a new presidential administration.
July 14, 2013
I do not write as good or helpful a Five Star Review as does my Christian Brother and businessman friend, Bart Breen at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... .
However, I do agree wholeheartedly with what Bart writes in his review of this book by my other Friend and atypical Professor colleague, Tony Simons. (Atypical because most books written by University Professors are booooring!)
Tony's is NOT boring and incredibly helpful.
Enjoy and learn,
GaryFPatton
(2013-07-14 gfp '42©)
However, I do agree wholeheartedly with what Bart writes in his review of this book by my other Friend and atypical Professor colleague, Tony Simons. (Atypical because most books written by University Professors are booooring!)
Tony's is NOT boring and incredibly helpful.
Enjoy and learn,
GaryFPatton
(2013-07-14 gfp '42©)
April 28, 2015
Having integrity is one of those values I look for in others and I'm constantly making sure I am living my life in accordance to the integrity I have
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews