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of integrity they already have. One either has integrity or doesn’t. On the
other hand, if we evaluate our values and obtain key feedback from others,
we can make the opportunity to modify our behaviors to ensure that they
are line with our inherent integrity.
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Self-Reflection

The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself. Thales.

Self-reflection is an important behavior that is demonstrated by leaders. It

involves being aware of and understanding one’s personal strengths and
weaknesses, and what one does well and not so well. For leaders to take
their followers in a good direction, they really need to take the time to
reflect and learn from their experiences. It’s about “knowing oneself.”
This introspection can establish a baseline for a leader to determine at what

stage in his or her development he or she is, and what direction to head
toward.

No one can produce great things who is not thoroughly sincere in dealing
with himself. Poet James Russell Lowell.

It is virtually impossible to know yourself without receiving feedback from
those with whom you have contact. It isn’t easy to ask for feedback, but it
is important. Otherwise, for example, it is difficult to know what personal
shortcoming one needs to guard against in working with others. However,
if you don’t value this feedback, then it won’t have much of an impact on

your development as a leader.

One can also gain feedback from assessing what is happening in your
relationship with others or in your work life. If time is taken to really
observe what is happening around you, it is possible to have a much better

sense of people’s reactions to you and your behavior. This improves your
ability to anticipate those reactions in similar future circumstances.

It is important to note that the less feedback you receive, the more
vulnerable you become as a leader. This is certainly true for your

81 http://leadershiptrainingdevelopment.com/can-you-teachor-learn-integrity.

David Kolzow 69