By Neal Trautman

If you do good, people will accuse you of ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

Honesty will make you vulnerable.

Be honest anyway.

The biggest men with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men with the smallest minds.

Think big anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

People really need help, but may attack you if you help them.

Help them anyway.

Give the world the best you’ve got, knowing you may get kicked in the teeth.

Give the world the best you have anyway.

—Anonymous

Supervisors act as trainer, counselor and mentor for all employees. As a result of their constant contact, they become major role models. The importance of the relationship must not be underestimated. It will be vital for developing traits such as sincerity, loyalty, honesty, respect and dedication. Their influence as role models is the greatest single source of power as a leader. Actions do speak louder than words. It is impossible for any company, association or agency to be filled with integrity if line supervisors are unethical.

An integrity leader assumes a tremendous amount of responsibility. They are responsible for preparing and leading employees by instructing, demonstrating, monitoring and evaluating their progress. Responsibilities extend not only to employees, but the organization, community and profession as well.

Line supervisors are also the ideal "vehicle" to instill the ethics knowledge, skills and abilities. People need to conquer the hard ethical decisions that await them. This task becomes much easier by teaching the ethical decision-making process.

As an employee’s most influential role model, it is the direct supervisor who most shapes and molds the beliefs and attitude of the work force. The long-lasting effect of what an integrity filled leader says and does is astounding.

by  Neal Trautman

Tuesday, February 03, 2004   dw