Integrity
The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality
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4.4 • 55 Ratings
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- $15.99
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
Integrity—more than simple honesty, it's the key to success. A person with integrity has the ability to pull everything together, to make it all happen no matter how challenging the circumstances. Drawing on experiences from his work, Dr. Henry Cloud, a clinical psychologist, leadership coach, corporate consultant and nationally syndicated radio host, shows how our character can keep us from achieving all we want to (or could) be.
In Integrity, Dr. Cloud explores the six qualities of character that define integrity, and how people with integrity:
Are able to connect with others and build trust Are oriented toward reality Finish well Embrace the negative Are oriented toward increase Have an understanding of the transcendent
Integrity is not something that you either have or don't, but instead is an exciting growth path that all of us can engage in and enjoy.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
For Cloud, an author, clinical psychologist and corporate consultant, integrity is more than just a person's ethics and morals. The French and Latin meanings of the word hint at its origins, "that the whole thing is working well, undivided, integrated, intact and uncorrupted." Achieving this "wholeness" requires the development of six character traits (creates trust, unafraid of reality, results-oriented, solves "negative realities," causes growth and finds meaning in life) which Cloud examines in great detail, using business stories like Proctor and Gamble's success in China and the experiences of his CEO friends and clients. What each of his stories has in common is how success, often wild success across multiple fields, is fueled by openness, honesty to one's self and to others and "true trust," which is borne out of someone's goodness not being "dependent on anything." Cloud's conversational writing style makes for an easy read, and much of his advice is sound if not groundbreaking, but some aphorisms come off as hokey. ("Things never work. When they don't, that is the time to make them work. Then, if you do, they work," or "Character = the ability to meet the demands of reality," which is not to be confused with integrity, the courage to meet those same demands.) This book is not for the person seeking a quick-fix; Cloud's breed of integrity is a lifestyle choice.
Customer Reviews
An Encouraging challenge to live fully
I wish to thank Dr. Henry Cloud for writing this invaluable book filled with wisdom. Through it, I have learned that I should acquire a more focused way of life, but that that does not mean giving up my desires to have variety in life. I can be focused and still have an orientation towards growth in always learning and mastering new things.
It will mess with you.
I read this book along with members of two of our organization’s management teams. Cloud balances the personal and professional worlds well, providing ample stories from and advice for each, although his approach proves our usual compartmentalization of the two as a fallacy. Our issues are our issues, and they show up everywhere. The book is a tough read. Cloud doesn’t pull any punches — the more you read, the more you realize that you have work to do. If you’re looking for a book that will truly help you improve your character, this book is it.