Toward a Broader – But Still Rigorous – Definition of Leader Integrity: Commentary

Abstract

[Excerpt] The impetus for this special issue of The Leadership Quarterly grew out of the desire of a small but enthusiastic group of leadership scholars who were interested in the concepts of integrity in general and behavioral integrity (the consistency between words and actions) in particular. Guest Editor Tony Simons' (2002) theoretical article in Organization Science had sparked a great deal of interest in behavioral integrity, including the interest of a then-doctoral student at Binghamton University, Guest Editor Mike Palanski. Palanski was seeking advice for his dissertation, and Simons wished to build a cadre of scholars with an interest in leader behavioral integrity. A year or so later, Palanski had the “misfortune” of presenting a paper on integrity as the final presenter in the final session on the final day of the 2006 Academy of Management conference in Atlanta. To his surprise, the room was packed, and it quickly became clear that others also wished to study leader integrity in more depth.