Integrity is a word we hear a lot in leadership - but what does it really look like when things get difficult? In the latest Firefly white paper, senior leaders share honest reflections on the moments integrity gets tested and how to lead with clarity and care when the pressure’s on.
We often say we value integrity in leadership, but what does it actually look like in the real world of deadlines, decisions, and day-to-day demands?
That’s the question we put to a group of senior leaders in a Firefly roundtable discussion last year. The result is our new white paper, “Leading with Integrity”, a practical, honest reflection on what it means to lead with your values, especially when they’re being tested.
Because when integrity gets tested, it’s rarely in a training room. It’s in the middle of a tough call, a team conflict, or a 3am moment of doubt. It shows up not just in the big moments, but the small ones - the offhand comment, the hiring conversation, the budget trade-off.
In the roundtable, leaders shared what it’s like to feel pulled in different directions - between performance and people, between doing what’s easy and what’s right. The latest Firefly white paper explores how to navigate those moments with clarity and care.
“Even the smallest decision that you make, it’s been done with fairness, it’s been done with transparency, it’s been done with authenticity. So, when the big decisions come, then actually people trust that a certain person will make the right call because we trust them.”
What you’ll find inside the Firefly white paper.
This paper brings together real voices and real tensions, alongside tools, strategies and reflections to help you navigate those moments with clarity and care.
It explores:
What integrity looks like in practice - and why it matters more than ever
The internal and external pressures that can make it harder to act on your values
How to build a culture where integrity is expected, supported and talked about
What helps leaders stay grounded - from radical transparency to self-awareness and peer support
Quotes and reflections from leaders navigating these challenges right now
Why now?
Because integrity isn’t just a personal value - it’s a leadership practice. One that influences culture, trust and relationships.
What we know from Firefly's work with leaders in organisations, is that the leaders who act with integrity deliver better organisational performance and have more successful careers. What we also know from working with those executives and their teams is that leading with integrity is not always easy, there are challenges to be overcome and there are tools and strategies that can help along the way.
The Firefly white paper offers a guide to leading with integrity in a time where being brave, acting in alignment with your values, and focussing on the longer-term holistic goals matter more than ever.
If you’re supporting others, shaping culture, or simply trying to lead in a way that feels more aligned, we hope this paper gives you the clarity and encouragement to keep going.
Ready to dig into the real conversations behind leading with integrity?
If this paper sparks ideas or questions about your own leadership, our Online Learning Library might be a helpful next step. It’s full of practical tools, real-world examples and reflective activities - including our Authentic Leadership Mastery and Courageous Conversations courses.