Stephen M. R. Covey, in his book, The Speed of Trust, tells a great story that really demonstrates and defines integrity. The story is about the tennis champion Andy Roddick. Roddick was playing in the 2005 Italia Masters tournament in Rome. His competitor was Fernando Verdasco. In the third round it was game point in favor of Roddick. On the second serve by Verdasco, the line judge ruled the serve shot “out.” Victory Roddick! The spectators began to cheer wildly for Roddick and Verdasco began his walk to the net to congratulate Roddick. With Roddick’s up close view he knew the shot was in and he refused to accept the judge’s call. Instead he pointed out to the judge’s attention a small indention on the clay court that the ball made as it bounced away. The judge agreed based upon the indention that the shot was indeed in play. He reversed his call, the point was given to Verdasco and the match continued. At the conclusion of the match Verdasco defeated Roddick.Everyone was shocked and amazed at Roddick’s action. Tennis is a game that is not typically played upon the honor system but on the umpire’s judgment calls. Fans could not believe what they just saw. Roddick obviously did not want to win at any price. The price for him to accept the judge’s initial call and claim victory would have been a loss of personal integrity. He could have easily accepted the initial call and taken the victory. If he had, no one could have accused him of failing to follow the rules of the game or cheating. What he did was extraneous to the rules and ethics of tennis. But to have done differently he would have violated the rules of the game of life that he had chosen to live by. To accept the bad call by saying nothing, he would have lost self respect and self credibility. For Roddick the price was too high to pay.
As leaders it is important to do what is right, always, every time. Likewise we should understand that doing “what is right” is not always the same as doing “the right thing.” Warren Bennis who consulted with the Los Angeles Police Department years ago on police effectiveness determined that one of the biggest problems within the law enforcement profession was that police officers were so concerned about doing the right thing that they often failed to do what was right. I would say that is something worth thinking about and considering. Is this observation by Bennis true today in our organizations? Is it true of our own leadership behaviors?
I believe as does Bennis, that there is often a world of difference between “doing what is right” and “doing the right thing.” The Roddick example above clearly demonstrates that. Roddick could have chosen not to say anything to correct the bad call by the umpire. It was not a requirement of the game. If he had chosen not to say anything, based upon the ethics of the game of tennis, no one could contest that he won by doing the right thing. In other words, he would have won by following the rules of the game. He did not cheat. But, would he have truly been a winner? Roddick did not think so. I do not think so either and I am glad he chose the high road and did what was right rather than the right thing. What a wonderful example of integrity he gave us by choosing the hard right over the easy wrong, or perhaps I should say over the easy right. By doing “what was right” instead of doing “the right thing” he became a winner regardless of the outcome of the match. Following the rules of the game consisted, in this situation, “doing the right thing” but correcting the error and following the higher moral value of absolute personal honesty was a tremendous example of “doing what was right.”
Another example of doing what is right and doing the right thing is a scene from the Robert Redford movie, The Legend of Bagger Vance. The movie’s main scene is the golf tournament finale between two golfing greats Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen and a third unknown and underdog player, the fictional Rannulph Junah. Junah had a chance at the end to pull off a miracle and defeat two of the games’ greatest players. But as he was preparing for a shot he accidently moved his ball about an inch. No one saw it except Junah. He could have chosen to not mention it, played the shot and perhaps won the tournament easily. Instead he reported it to the officials and was properly penalized a stroke. He did what was right and the right thing according to the ethics of golf.
I remember watching this scene and seeing the small boy who had befriended Junah standing nearby. He was crying and asking Junah why was he going to report the incident knowing it could very well cost him a victory. Junah explained that it was the right thing to do and that winning is not everything or the most important thing. Winning with honor, fairly and squarely, is the only way to win. It is the only way to live, too. What a great but difficult lesson about personal integrity that young man learned that day along with the many thousands who watched the movie.
The great basketball coach John Wooden tells us, “A person who values winning above anything will do anything to win. And such people are threats to their organizations.” To Wooden character mattered greatly. He taught his coaches and players to, “Never lie; never cheat; never steal. Don’t whine; don’t complain; don’t make excuses.” A great lesson, one perhaps many athletic programs and organizations today could benefit from and should follow.
Remember to always “do what is right”, even when it hurts. It might not always be the same as “doing the right thing”. Learn to discern the difference and become a more credible and trustworthy leader.
Leaderup and have a great and safe week.
Esse Quam Videri!
Carpe Diem
Arete'
No comments:
Post a Comment