Achievement 2; My Introduction Post To Steemit Community By @elijah61; Mentor by @cryptokannon PRIMARY QUALITIES OF A GREAT LEADER

PRIMARY QUALITIES OF A GREAT LEADER
There are various qualities of a great leader. Different people have their measurements on the issue of quality. Let me add mine to this discussion.
Today I will like to consider Honesty and Integrity
HONESTY AND INTEGRITY

Everybody defines leadership differently but I really like the way John C Maxwell defines leadership, “A Leader Knows The Way, Goes The Way and Shows the Way.”

Irrespective of how you define a leader, he or she can prove to be a difference-maker between success and failure. A good leader has a futuristic vision and knows how to turn his ideas into real-world success stories.

In this article, I will like us to take an in-depth look at some of the important leadership qualities that separate good leaders from bad ones.

1. An honest person is truthful—even when it is not easy or convenient.
2. An honest person does not lie or steal for any reason.
3. A person of integrity is true at all times to the principles and commandments of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Such a person will be true to God at all times even when no one sees but God. Our God values integrity.
He can trust those who have the integrity of heart.
The bible in Philippians 4:8-9 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

John Maxwell said, “You’ve probably heard the saying, “Fake it ‘til you make it.” It’s actually one of my least favorite sayings. It’s a catchy but destructive idea that does more harm than good and here’s why:
You can’t truly “make it” if you don’t have integrity.
He continued, “And integrity is the opposite of fake. It literally means being whole and undivided – being the same on the inside as you are on the outside. If “fake it ‘til you make it” is a philosophy that you live by, and then you’re setting yourself up for failure in the long run.”

DEFINITION OF TERMS
Honesty is:

1. Being honest is being open,
2. Being trustworthy and
3. Being truthful. ...

Being honest means that you don't pretend to be something you are not. With honesty, you can trust things to be as they appear.

Integrity: Integrity is standing up for what you believe is right, living by your highest values.
But there are times you may believe something is right in your eyes but it is truly or right in the eyes of another and even in the eyes of God. Therefore, let me adjust the definition a bit: Integrity is standing up for what acceptable as right in the eyes of God and morally acceptable anywhere and at any time. The bible in Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.”

Key Terms

1. RESPONSIBILITY
   Responsibility is being reliable to do the things that are expected or required in your life, home, community, and environment.
2. INTEGRITY
   Acting in a way you know to be right and kind in all situations.
3. HONESTY
   Honesty is being truthful and sincere with your words, actions and thoughts.
4. RESPECT
   Respect is treating people, places, and things with kindness.

Honesty: Being honest is being open, trustworthy, and truthful. When people are honest, they can be relied on not to lie, cheat, or steal. Honesty is telling the truth.

It is admitting mistakes even when you know someone might be angry or disappointed. Being honest means that you don’t pretend to be something you are not.

With honesty, you can trust things to be as they appear. Integrity: Integrity is standing up for what you believe is right, living by your highest values. No matter where you are, who you are with, or what you are doing, you will act in a way that you believe to the best way to act. It is being honest and sincere with others and yourself.

You are a person of integrity when your words and actions match. You don’t fool yourself into doing what you know is wrong.

Illustrative Story on Honesty – “Can Three Mangoes Make Any Difference In A Big Establishment?”

Honesty: Being honest is being open, trustworthy, and truthful. When people are honest, they can be relied on not to lie, cheat, or steal. Honesty is telling the truth, in words and in character examples.

Acts 6:3 said, “Wherefore brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report…whom we may appoint over this business.”

Whatever you do as a parent, you are exemplifying leadership. Somebody is copying your lifestyle as the right thing to do. He/she will certainly practice what he had learned from you someday, some time. You may have been very lucky to have escaped being caught, but your protégé may not. So consider integrity as important in your leadership.

The man in this story was appointed as an honest man but he was not.

There once was a boy who lived with his mother and father. Their family was poor. The father got a job with a company that processed mangos. The man thought the rich owner of the business would not miss a few mangos. So, the father stole three mangos one day for himself, his wife, and their boy. He asked his wife and boy: “What difference do three mangos make to the business? “The owner will not miss them and we like mangos.”

The boy knew that his father did not pay for the mangos, but he ate one anyway because he was hungry. The father continued to bring three stolen mangos home to his family every day and they continued to eat the stolen mangos.
What difference do three mangos make in the life of the boy?
The boy grew up and had a wife and a boy of his own. He got a job with a company that builds bridges and helped to build a long bridge across a large river. He thought that the rich owner of the bridge-building business would not miss a few building materials. So, while he was working on the bridge, he stole materials to build a house for his family.

Illustration: Integrity

Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles or moral uprightness–Wikipedia

“David was far more concerned about his integrity before God than he was his popularity or success before men. He was more concerned that his trust for his life, his family, or his future not shifts from God. He wanted integrity before God. He wanted to please God and to serve God uninterrupted. He knew this integrity would give security.

Psalm 119:1 NKJV “ALEPH. Blessed [are] the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD! 2 Blessed [are] those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! 3 They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. 4 You have commanded [us] To keep Your precepts diligently. 5 Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! 6 Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. 7 I will praise You with uprightness of heart When I learn Your righteous judgments."

“David trusted that God would always keep his feet steady and would uphold him, even in the eyes of men. So he turned to God to help him, at all times, under all circumstances—so his God would be honored. In these uncertain times (in the minds of men, but not with God) we must keep our relationship with God FIRST.”

Because he took many materials that were supposed to be part of the bridge, it lacked structural integrity when it was finished. Many people (including the man’s wife and boy) celebrated the completion of the bridge by gathering together on the bridge for a ceremony. However, because the bridge lacked materials that were supposed to be used on it, it was not as strong as it looked. It collapsed during the ceremony and everyone—including the man and his family—was very sad. Watch what you are doing.

Integrity Lost Cannot Be Regained
How much value do you place on your integrity?
Maintain your integrity

History has it that Ruben Gonzalez was in the final match of a pro racquetball tournament. In the 4th and final game, Gonzales made a super kill shot into the front wall to win the game. The referee called it good. Two linesmen affirmed that the shot was in. But Gonzales, after a moment’s hesitation, turned around, shook his opponent’s hand, and declared that his shot had hit the floor first. As a result, he lost the match and walked off the court. Everybody was stunned. They couldn’t believe that a player with victory at hand disqualified himself at match point and lost! When asked why he did it, Reuben said, “It was the only thing that I could do to maintain my integrity. I could always win another match, but I could never regain my lost integrity.” (Source Unknown).

Bribed to Open the Gate of the Great Wall

John Maxwell in his book “The Leader Within You” told The story of the building of the Great Wall of China. They built it so high that no one could get over it. And they built it so thick that no one could tunnel through it. They built this gigantic wall that still exists today. And then the people of China sat down behind the wall, feeling that their future was secure. But in the first 100 years of its existence, China was invaded three times. The enemy didn’t come over it or tunnel through it. But each time China was invaded, the enemy came through a gate left open for them. Those who guarded the gate had been bribed. While the people sat comfortably behind the security of the wall, they failed to teach