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Integrity The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality

Written by: Andy Marken

Article Overview: Book Review -- Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality; By Dr. Henry Cloud, HarperCollins Publishers, 10 East 53rd Street, NY, ISBN 0060849681, 304 pages, list - $24.95; February 2006.

Integrity The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality

After skimming and then reading Integrity, our most difficult task was to classify the book so that we could explain it. We’ll try.

Dr. Cloud has written an excellent, “Yeah But” book. Integrity is a fun, easy book to read as well as a sobering, difficult book to read. It isn’t a business roadmap book. Instead it is more of a lifestyle enhancement guide that can help you achieve personal satisfaction different from great financial wealth -- and professional satisfaction/success.

When we first skimmed the book we said “yeah but” quite a bit because we couldn’t fault Dr. Cloud’s key points and discussion. You have a tendency to read and agree with the six essential qualities for success that he outlines and explains then experience or rationalization steps in and says…”yeah but if we had done that awhile back when were in this situation, we would have been nailed!”

That’s why we strongly encourage you to read Integrity in a different way than you might most books if you really want to get the author’s message (and we believe he has a message for everyone in the industry!).

Skim the book, put it down and leave it alone for a week or two. Then pick it up and read really read the book with the idea that you’re going to understand the key reality issues and can use them to enhance every aspect of your life.

Integrity really is a must-read!!!!

A clinical psychologist, Cloud has identified a set of key character traits ability to transcend, ability to focus on growth, ability to understand and deal with negatives, ability to focusing on results and finishing tasks, connecting in an authentic manner and orientation toward truth. The book helps you come to grips with adversity, learn from it and reshape/relearn behavioral patterns that will help you succeed.

Using real examples from business leaders across the spectrum P&G, Dell Computer, Toshiba, 7-Eleven and other organizations he makes it easy for you to understand how successful people enhance their competencies, build business and personal alliances and enrich their own character.

The ability to transcend according to Cloud means being able to lead programs and projects with a greater truth because people like to be around individuals who are committed to the greater mission and in making the project/program succeed.

Concerning the demands of reality, he notes that we have to constantly grow and increase our abilities, skills and capacities as a total person; not just on the job. We particularly liked his examination of what happens when individuals or their surroundings suppress the natural desire to grow by not taking calculated risks. Mistakes and “failures” can help you enhance your integrity.

Problems occur and “stuff” happens but Cloud points out that if people are able to address the negatives and work through them to a positive solution then they can regroup and recover. Often achieving even more than they had anticipated.

Successful people seem to have a unique ability to make the tough decisions that allow they to realize their goals. Granted they don’t always win but they know how to lose gracefully and learn from the shortcoming. If you ask 100 people if they work hard the majority will claim they do but Cloud asserts that they don’t achieve lofty goals. They don’t achieve what he calls real results because they don’t make the hard choices and if they achieve a partial win they are satisfied and don’t push for the ultimate goal.

Cloud focuses heavily on truth which in his opinion allows people to find and work in reality. He emphasizes that people who are constantly expanding their integrity actively pursue reality, grab it and make it work for them.

We found his explanation of successful people who had integrity were also authentic or real. We can all identify people who are nice because they understand and empathize with people’s needs. Adding to that he notes that leaders and successful people are simultaneously seem strong and vulnerable as well as trusting and committed. He emphasizes that people who can connect with you in a way that makes you understand that they value these key component increases their integrity in your mind and enables/encourages you to help them achieve goals.

Cloud has spelled out the traits that anyone can develop if they work at it hard enough so that they become second nature and as natural as breathing. Then you can look in the mirror and state emphatically that you have integrity. More importantly, it will encourage those around you to deal with their personal and business encounters with integrity.

If we were to fault Cloud’s work in any way it would be that the underlying premise of the book is that people who have integrity and face up to reality achieve financially. But maybe that’s the motivation you’re going to need deal with integrity and reality in your personal and professional life.

Whatever your goals, Integrity should be skimmed, read and reread until the six characteristics are natural to you.

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