The woodcutter’s promise

A king had to leave for a long journey and wondered who he should leave in charge of his kingdom while he was gone. One day when he was out riding alone, a woman appeared in the mist. “Soon, you will find the one you seek,” she said. She waved a hand, and suddenly the king found himself in the simple clothes of a common woodcutter.

The king was puzzled, but he rode on. A few minutes later, he saw a boat in the lake with six noblemen. A storm was coming, and the boat was in danger. Jumping in the water, the king swam out, climbed into the boat, and helped the noblemen row safely to shore. He heard a voice, “One of these men will be your next counselor. Invite all of them to dinner at your hut in one week.” The king, who still appeared to be a mere woodcutter, did so. The noblemen all promised they would come.

Back at his palace and dressed up like himself, the king, the voice was again. “Call all those noblemen to your castle and invite them to dinner in one week.”

Five of the noblemen showed up in one week, but the sixth was missing. Furious, the king commanded his guards to search the kingdom for the missing guest. Shortly the guards dragged the sixth nobleman to the palace and pushed him down before the king’s throne. “Why did you not come with the others for my dinner party?” he demanded.

“Sire,” said the nobleman, “I beg your forgiveness. But I had already accepted an invitation to dine with a woodcutter that night. I am sorry.”

The king stood up. “You would rather dine with a mere woodcutter than your king?” “Sire, I gave my word. What else could I do?”

The king smiled. “I am pleased. You kept your promise, even at the risk of my anger. You are the man I have been looking for to take care of my kingdom in my absence.”

The nobleman became the king’s trusted counselor and ruled wisely while he was on his travels.1 This is a parable that teaches a story.

Do you know why it is so lonely at the top? The answer is quite simple. Because if you are the top honcho, the business owner, a ruler of a nation, or a “king” in your organization, you do not know who to trust.

More than often have I cautioned top people in organizations that the higher you are in your position, the more filtered the information that reaches you. But still, they have to find people of competence and integrity who can advise them and help them lead.

Competence and integrity are both vital to leadership. People who have integrity without competence will become trusted officers who cannot run the organization effectively. Their “sense of entitlement” drives good people away and obscures business progress. While people with competence but without integrity will become brilliant criminals and can quickly bring down entire organizations because of their unethical practices and behavior. Isn’t it amazing that recurring cases involve hiring people for their competence and firing them for their character?

The website americanrecruiters.com features some 13 traits of people with integrity.2

1. They value other people’s time.

2. They give credit where it is due.

3. They are authentic. You won’t catch them in a lie or being fake.

4. They are always honest.

5. They never take advantage of others. They do not suck up to the higher-ups. They let their competence and performance speak on their behalf.

6. They do not argue over disagreements. They find solutions.

7. They give most people the benefit of the doubt. They are not judgmental.

8. They know when something is bothering someone. They show empathy.

9. They believe in others. They do not take lying well. They accept your word as truth until it is disproven. And once you lie to them, it is unlikely that they will ever take your word again.

10. They apologize first. They own up to their mistake and try to make things right.

11. They are humble. They do not allow their success or accomplishments to get into their heads.

12. They do good when they can. This gives their lives meaning.

13. They are always kind and respectful.

Yes, there are people with integrity in the workplace. They may not have been recognized because they are just quietly doing their work competently and faithfully, but you have to seek them out as a leader because you can trust them, and they will make you succeed a whole lot more.