Episode 364: What the World Needs Now is Integrity in Entrepreneurial Leadership
Episode Notes
Why does the world need integrity in entrepreneurial leadership now? We have always needed the skillset and mindset of entrepreneurs to evolve and revolutionize our world. Integrity has always been an important leadership value. Why is it highly relevant now?
This topic comes from my inherent concern regarding entrepreneurial leaders with harmful intentions using our legal system interminably to delay justice and accountability. And how many laws can one break? Astonishingly, a lot. This brings me to ask more questions.
Why are we allowing leaders, who lack integrity, egregiously break our laws, and have a sinister vision that is destroying our democracy, to not only hold the highest offices in the land but profit from doing so? If our democracy is everything to us, why are we the people, allowing a political party to prioritize their rights above all others? Why are we allowing ill-intentioned political entrepreneurs to disregard standards of decency, violate ethical principles and laws, and outpace accountability guardrails?
Where others see problems, entrepreneurs see opportunities.
Where entrepreneurs see opportunities, they solve problems.
When ethical entrepreneurs solve problems, they add societal value.
While pondering these big questions and sifting through the emotions that come from feeling unsettled and concerned about all of us, I devised an Eight Integrity Checkpoints exercise to bridge the gap between our professed values, how we live, and the leaders we support. Each checkpoint pair begins with a question you can ask yourself and a second question in reference to a leader you support.
Read through each question. These questions are thought-provoking so allow time to reflect. I suggest returning to this exercise after you read the rest of these notes and listen to this episode. I give examples in the audio. You decide what works best for you.
Eight Integrity Checkpoints
- How am I taking 100% responsibility for what I think, feel, say, and do?
- How does the leader I support take 100% responsibility for what they think, feel, say, and do?
- What are my two core values, without which I feel off track and lost? Or, I get angry when someone doesn’t respect my values.
- Are the words, feelings, and actions of the leader I support aligned with my core values? How do I know? What are their core values?
- Reflecting on my life, am I living my core values?
- As I reflect on the leader I support, are they living their core values?
- How am I being or leading the change I want to make in the world?
- What change does the leader I support role model to the world?
The Research Rabbit Hole
Integrity in entrepreneurial leadership initially felt easy for me to discuss. I work with clients daily to live what they value and value how they live. I have written and taught about having integrity, and I hold myself accountable to integrity guideposts, my core values of wholeheartedness (compassion, connection, and courage) and respect.
Instead, the research rabbit hole I entered ignited unresolved hurts such as anguish, despair, sadness, grief, and dread about the next election. I am exhausted from the slowness of our legal system and the emotional and financial cost to all of us from the 45th U.S. President’s excruciatingly painful refusal to take responsibility for his criminal acts and threats to the fabric of our democracy because he can’t put our democracy above his corrupted interests.
We know of his egregious acts against our democracy and lack of integrity in business reporting including the latest 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up his seedy behavior. He is like the Titanic. We know he is sinking. We don’t know how long it will take or how many more people will go down with him. I know he will not take our democracy with him, dammit! Not on our watch!!!
Kindred Voices are Speaking Up and Showing Up
Once below the surface and into the emotional quagmire–which never lasts forever–I found myself curiously discovering my feelings validated and the aloneness of it lifting. As I was preparing to talk about this topic of integrity in entrepreneurial leadership, an email arrived from Lisa Fain, a past Guest Mentor and Executive Director of the Center for Mentoring Excellence. She and I were twinning. She has a guest speaker scheduled to talk about authenticity in mentoring. Within her email, she included a resource from a renowned therapist in narcissism, Dr. Ramani Durvasula, When narcissism meets authenticity – YouTube.
I read Dr. Ramani’s eye-opening book a few months ago, “Don’t You Know Who I am?” How to Stay Sane in an Era of Narcissism, Entitlement, and Incivility. I understand what is happening and how to sustain my sanity; identifying narcissistic behaviors and stearing clear of their toxicity. Dr. Ramani expanded my awareness of the different types of narcissists and why there are so many narcissists and toxic people in our lives. Think ants at a picnic (her example) or vultures on dead prey.
On April 14, 2023, The New York Times printed an ad to support The Times and how they make a difference through accurate journalism. The following What Truth Is poem was posted on the back of a hoodie in that ad:
The truth is hard.
The truth is hidden.
The truth must be pursued.
The truth is hard to hear.
The truth is rarely simple.
The truth isn’t so obvious.
The truth is necessary.
The truth can’t be glossed over.
The truth can’t be manufactured.
The truth doesn’t take sides.
The truth isn’t red or blue.
The truth is hard to accept.
The truth pulls no punches.
The truth is powerful.
The truth is under attack.
The truth is worth defending.
The truth requires taking a stand.
The truth is more important now than ever.
You cannot value integrity without being willing to take your hoodie off and uncover the truth. You can do this with other kindred souls working together toward our greater good. Below I included value-based definitions of entrepreneurial leadership from Babson College to reinforce your entrepreneurial mindset and unique skillset and help you identify what to look for in value-based leaders.
Entrepreneurial Leadership. “Entrepreneurial leadership,” writes Scott Taylor, Arthur M. Blank Endowed Chair for Values-Based Leadership at Babson College, “is both a skillset and a mindset—both of which can be taught. Entrepreneurial leaders stand out because they put people first and manage in a relational way. They inspire an entrepreneurial approach, which has the potential to create strong risk managers, exceptional uncertainty navigators, and highly skilled ambiguity explorers. These three traits work together, enabling entrepreneurial leaders to take action, solve problems, and create value while others are still analyzing the situation.
This goes far beyond business, allowing entrepreneurial leaders to impact organizations, the economy, and society as a whole.”
“Like entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial leaders are made, not born. It’s a muscle that can be developed with time and practice. According to D.R. Widder MBA’99, Babson’s vice president of innovation, budding entrepreneurial leaders share a handful of common characteristics:
- Entrepreneurial leaders want to solve problems collaboratively,
- Entrepreneurial leaders value action and are outcomes-oriented, and
- Entrepreneurial leaders believe that things can be better and that they can make an impact.
Entrepreneurial leaders are able to lead from any position. They know leadership doesn’t always come from the top, and it comes from action, not hierarchy,” says Widder. “These people are high-performance, collaborative problem solvers and are broadly needed in all industries.”
Even publishers are looking for entrepreneurial leaders. Hay House Publishing started a group for entrepreneurs who are authors called authorpreneurs that I am a part of. Everyone benefits from learning the mindset and skillsets of value-based entrepreneurial leadership. It gives us more options to be the change we wish to make in the world by taking 100% responsibility for what we think, feel, say, and do. Keep evolving! DOWNLOAD
NEXT STEP After Listening: Challenge yourself and do the three Conscious Attentive Leadership Mentoring (C.A.L.M.) Activities, below. 
Podcast Conversations with Lisa Fain
Conscious Attentive Leadership Mentoring
After listening, do these three C.A.L.M. Activities:
- Take this risk or do this adventurous task: Complete the Eight Integrity Checkpoints exercise above. Share the exercise with three other people and discuss the results.
- Apply Self-Compassion: What did you realize about integrity that you didn’t already know? Allow yourself opportunities to uncover the truth in your experiences without judgment or denial. The truth really does set you free.
- Welcome Appreciation: “I am grateful that I could work through the difficult emotions that emerged as I prepared to talk with you. I appreciate you for taking the time to learn more about integrity and entrepreneurial leadership. I appreciate having an outlet to openly express the truth of what I experience, hoping we can evolve together and ignite the change we wish to see.
Your Turn. Start with, “I appreciate what I heard from today’s Mentor, Nancy Meyer. I appreciate this week’s adventurous task because….”
“Most of the problems in our lives and world are caused by relational dysfunction, a dysfunction in how we relate: as social groups, as individuals, to animals and the environment, and even to ourselves. Therefore, developing relational literacy—the understanding of and ability to practice healthy ways of relating—is essential for personal, social, and ecological transformation.” —Melanie Joy, psychologist, author, theorist, educator
When WeMentor… your life becomes more meaningful!!! Redefine how you lead while redesigning your business. Dual Innovation Leadership WORKS.
Podcast Guest Mentor
Nancy Meyer.
Nancy A. Meyer, M.A., is a seasoned entrepreneurial leader, business and life mentor/coach/teacher, podcaster, author, and certified mindfulness yoga and meditation integrator (she integrates those skill sets into everything she does). Nancy has a compassionate and collaborative approach that reinforces resilience and maintains accountable conversations that support how you redefine how you lead as you redesign your business model.
We collaborate with you to do what will work for YOU in becoming the leader you envision yourself to be! Nancy founded WeMentor, inc. in 1992 to change the leadership in our country by providing emerging and existing business owners with mentoring so they can evolve with their ventures. Nancy calls this Dual Innovation Leadership.
You can redefine how you lead as you redesign your business. We know that Dual Innovation Leadership works because Nancy has mentored thousands and is eager to work with you! Assert self-leadership and get started today!
Clients say, “Nancy is a compelling, engaging, and ‘decipher the trees from the forest’ kind of mentor, speaker, and leader. A dedicated entrepreneurial leader and mentor who role models what she preaches. Her style and candor enrich the content she delivers and the results clients experience.” Nancy accepts people where they are at while inspiring them to breakthrough to new dimensions:
- As an Entrepreneurial Leader (Innovator),
- As a Small Business Owner (Practitioner),
- As a Mentor (Role Model), and
- As a Human Being and Master of Self-Leadership.
WeMentor Mondays with Nancy PODCAST. Join your peers and hear meaningful conversations as you evolve how you lead and redesign how you are doing business. SUBSCRIBE HERE!
Episode 364: What the World Needs Now is Integrity in Entrepreneurial Leadership
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Author: Nancy A. Meyer, M.A.
Nancy A. Meyer, M.A., is a seasoned entrepreneurial leader, business and life mentor/coach/teacher, podcaster, author, and certified mindfulness yoga and meditation integrator (she integrates those skill sets into everything). Nancy’s compassionate and collaborative approach reinforces resilience while maintaining accountable conversations supporting how you redefine your lead while redesigning your business. Nancy calls this “Dual Innovation Leadership.” Nancy founded WeMentor, inc. in 1992 to change the leadership in our country by providing emerging and existing business owners with mentoring in Dual Innovation Leadership. She has mentored thousands and is eager to work with you! Assert self-leadership and get started today! Clients say, “Nancy is a compelling, engaging, and ‘decipher the trees from the forest’ kind of mentor, speaker, and leader. A dedicated entrepreneurial leader and mentor who role models what she preaches. Her style and candor enrich the content she delivers and the results clients experience.” Nancy accepts people where they are while inspiring them to breakthrough into new dimensions: As an Entrepreneurial Leader (Innovator), As a Competent Business Owner (Practitioner) As a Mentor (Role Model) As a Spiritual Being and Self-Leadership Master! Start by subscribing to WeMentor Mondays with Nancy PODCAST. Join your peers and...
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