Integrity is when our words and deeds… it’s that powerful alignment between what you believe inside and how you show up. It’s the secret sauce for building real trust, both with your team and with yourself. When you get this right, everything else just starts to click into place.
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Meaning
At its heart, this is about radical alignment. It’s the state where your internal compass and your external actions are pointing in the exact same direction.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out so many times. It’s not just about telling the truth. It’s about your private intentions matching your public performance. Think about a leader who says “people are our most important asset” but then makes decisions based purely on short-term numbers—that gap, that misalignment, is where integrity breaks down. And people feel it instantly. It’s that gut feeling you get when someone is genuinely walking their talk, versus when something feels just a little bit off.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3669) |
| Category | Community (61) |
| Topics | authenticity (101), consistency (66), values (51) |
| Literary Style | philosophical (434), simple (291) |
| Emotion / Mood | serene (54) |
| Overall Quote Score | 81 (258) |
Origin & Factcheck
This comes straight from Simon Sinek’s 2014 book, “Leaders Eat Last,” which really cemented his ideas about leadership and organizational culture. You sometimes see this concept paraphrased or attributed to others, but the specific phrasing about words, deeds, and intentions is classic Sinek.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Simon Sinek (207) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t (34) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3669) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Simon Sinek champions a leadership philosophy rooted in purpose, trust, and service. He started in advertising, then founded Sinek Partners and gained global attention with his TED Talk on the Golden Circle. He advises companies and the military, writes bestselling books, and hosts the podcast “A Bit of Optimism.” The Simon Sinek book list features Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together Is Better, Find Your Why, and The Infinite Game. He speaks worldwide about building strong cultures, empowering people, and leading for the long term.
| Official Website | Facebook | X| Instagram | YouTube
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Integrity is when our words and deeds are consistent with our intentions |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2014; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 978-1591848011; Last edition: Portfolio/Penguin, 2014; Number of pages: 368 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 9: Integrity Matters; Approximate page from 2014 edition |