Leading with integrity. How to balance conflicting values

Reports of lapses in organizational integrity and ethical behavior are disturbing and point to the need for leaders committed to organizational integrity. In recent years, organizations have increased their attention to codes of compliance and compliance programs, but these programs focus on minimal requirements and are not a manifestation of integrity. Leaders must create integrity-based ethics programs, which direct corporate actions and goals and assist in shaping organizational relationships and decisions based on mission, vision, and core values. Organizational leaders must hold values that may be in conflict in a balanced tension. Such conflicting values include the Hippocratic tradition and population-based healthcare, caring for patients and families and containing costs, and competition and collaboration. Leaders can model integrity by addressing conflicting values overtly in decision-making processes.