Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality

by Henry Cloud

Book Overview

Integrity. It is more than simple honesty. It's the key to success. A person with integrity has the -- often rare -- ability to pull everything together, to make it all happen no matter how challenging the circumstances.

Drawing on experiences from his work with Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and individual leaders, Dr. Henry Cloud, a clinical psychologist and nationally syndicated radio host, shows how our character can keep us from...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060849681
• ISBN13: 9780060849689
• Release Date: February 2006
• Publisher: Harper Business
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Opinion

Liked the book, I thought it had some information that will be helpful in business as well as life in general.

Theory meets practice

This is rare book in terms of solid theoretical insight into human behavior, coming essentially from Dr Cloud's extensive experience as a clinical psychologist combined with analysis and inference drawn from his consulting experience with business leaders and CEOs. The introductory chapters however lack the punch and clarity on what the book is about does not emerge initially. This is perhaps because in my opinion, the approach and definition of the topic of integrity of character is radically new and takes some time to understand. The definition that integrity is much beyond and higher than just honesty and ethics and is about the courage to meet the demands of reality is difficult to comprehend at the beginning. Thereafter the book devotes one part each to the six dimensions of integrity - Establishing trust, Orientation toward reality, Getting results, Embracing the negative, Orientation toward increase and Orientation toward transcendence. Each of these facets as I like to call are like the sides of a hexagon; equally important to create the whole. The depth of discussions of each of the six dimensions is accompanied by actual case studies and quotes from some of the best business books. In the part devoted to Establishing Trust, Dr Cloud narrates a situation in which a CEO completely fails to convince his people on the benefits of a merger. In fact the meeting intended to get the buy-in of the folks turns counter productive. The CEO was talking, but not communicating. He failed to empathize to some of the genuine concerns of the people thereby ending up alienating the team. In the chapter `In touch with reality" Dr Cloud starts with the story of the CEO of a dog food company who obstinately tries all possible ways to increase the sales of the company's product except in finding out what his ultimate customers really want. When finally explained to the CEO by an employee "Sir... the dogs don't like it", reality finally dawns. Dogs bark, but reality bites! In many chapters I found commonality in inferences to CEOs' achieving corporate results and to success of marriages. Perhaps this is a reflection of Dr Cloud's typical mix of clientele. The six dimensions are well sequenced and are interrelated. Ignorance or failure of one dimension can lead to overall nonperformance explains Dr Cloud. The "gap" in a person who lacks the wholeness of character is bound to result in failure in three specific ways and to quote from the book (page 38): 1. Hitting performance ceiling that is much lower than ones aptitude 2. Hitting an obstacle or situation that derails you 3. Reaching great success only to self destruct and lose it all. This book was presented to me by a colleague. While I thank him for the wonderful gift, trust me, I loved it and shall do my best to put it into practice to fill in my gaps.

Integrity CD: by Henry Cloud

This CD is an accurate representation of an even better book --- Cloud's voice is easy to listen to as he makes points that are illuminating for anyone interested in understanding the application of the principles of living a complete life.

First rate concepts well excecuted

The book was given me by a friend. After reading it, I bought 20 copies for our Father-Son group. What I most like is that he defines integriy not just as being moral, truth-telling, but as those essential characteristics to being successful, to realizing one's full potential. The ideas are great; the illustrations and examples good. It's a easy read of profound truths. Harry Stachan 1/11/07

A must read!

I was pleasantly surprised that this book was so much different and more insightful than the other books I have read that deal with the subject matter of "integrity." Here, the focus of meaning of integrity is not so much on morals and ethics, although that is covered here, but it instead focuses on deeper aspects of character. The basic assumption here is that "integration" or "wholeness" of character is a necessary component in order to reach one's maximum potential both personally and professionally, and that character is not fixed or unchangeable. This book is extremely inspirational and informative. It is a roadmap to success and happiness. Highly recommended!