By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea to strength your ethical behavior. Reading time: 2:12

Are zebras -black- with white stripes? Or white —with black stripes?

Who cares? Leaders do-leaders with integrity.

After all, with integrity well-founded, there is no quandary on seemingly ambivalent issues.

With integrity well defined, there is much more greater understanding of conflicting points of view. With integrity well-conceived, there is much more focus in defining a meaningful vision.

Indeed with integrity, there is more clarity in delineating and defining a zebra’ stripes than meets the eye.

Zebras are -white -with black stripes despite plenty of contrary evidence. Why?

Researchers tell us the black stripes vary in color but the white stripes demonstrate more integrity. The white stripes of a zebra are always uniform, clearly delineated. With integrity.

Like the root word on “Integrity” — Integer -or a whole number. No wonder wholesome integrity is critical to a leader’s decision making. After all, with integrity there is no confusion in charting the course forward. There is only a fusion of heart and soul, body and mind, thought and action in achieving the objective.

Springing Back Like Wool

Integrity endears and endures. Integrity fortifies and clarifies. Integrity verifies and magnifies individuality.

With integrity, we behave consistently, just like the wool fibers in a natural cork screw shape. We can straighten them out with a gentle pull but they will spring back again to their natural cork screw shape. That’s why badly wrinkled wool clothes always smooth out.

They have integrity.

How do you foster a great sense of integrity in your decision making. Be even more sincere.

The word “sincere” comes from the Latin words sine cera, which means “without wax.” In ancient Rome, sine cera was a shopping area where the sculpture for sale was “without wax.” The art was perfectly shaped. No nicks filled in with a wax to hide the flaw.

Often that “wax-over” was so deceptive that even savvy shoppers could not tell if the piece was sincere (without wax).

Then artists would guarntee the sincerity of their work by putting it up for sale in a portion of the Roman Forum that was highly regulated called appropriately the Sine Cera Section- the Without Wax Section. So those who wanted sculpture that was complete -that maintained its integrity-would go to shop at Sine Cera.

That’s where leader’s showcase their wares- sincerely- where the lines are distinct to the trained eyes of a leader.

Like a zebra.

Today’s ImproveMINT

Be sincere to keep your leadership thinking in mint condition.

SUBSCRIBE: Have a Leadership Mint delivered to your E-mail every business day.
It’s free. Just click the SIGN ME UP box in the upper left column.