"Integrity — The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality: How Six Essential Qualities Determine Your Success in Business," by Henry Cloud (Collins 304 pages, $24.95)
In 2001, Michael Dell made a candid admission to his top 20 managers. The statement may have prevented a massive hemorrhage of talent from Dell Inc., notes Henry Cloud in his new book, "Integrity," an insightful examination of the elements of character that contribute to success in life and business.
Cloud, a clinical psychologist, credits a 2003 Business Week article for the reflection on Dell's confession. That article said that Dell and company President Kevin Rollins were troubled by a survey that indicated half of Dell's employees would quit if they found an attractive opportunity elsewhere.
The survey showed that subordinates saw Dell as "impersonal and emotionally detached" and Rollins as "autocratic and antagonistic." Therefore, few staffers held strong loyalty to Dell and Rollins.
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"Fearing an exodus of talent, the two executives focused on the gripes. Within a week, Dell faced his top 20 managers and offered a frank self-critique, acknowledging that he is hugely shy and that it sometimes makes him seem aloof and unapproachable."
The company began showing a video of Dell's testimonial to several thousand managers throughout the company. Dell placed a plastic bulldozer on his desk to remind him not to ram through his ideas without involving others, and Rollins put a Curious George on his to remind him to listen to his team before reaching a conclusion.
Cloud presents that story as an example of one of six character traits that are essential ingredients of integrity. The trait exemplified by Dell in that instance was the ability to connect with others and build trust.
"What if, for example, you led a company with almost $50 billion in revenues, and you found out that over half your employees were ready to leave and go to another company if they had a chance?" Cloud writes.
The other five character traits that are essential to integrity, according to Cloud are:
● Being oriented toward truth or in touch with reality.
● Getting results or finishing well.
● Embracing the negative or having an appetite for solving problems.
● Being oriented toward growing and getting better all the time.
● Being oriented toward putting your relationships to other people in proper perspective.