It is about choosing to stay above the line, especially when pressure, politics or people make it tempting not to.
Some leadership lessons come from experience. Others, surprisingly, come from a fictional football coach with a moustache, a lot of optimism, and a habit of believing in people before they believe in themselves.
That’s probably why Ted Lasso resonates. Underneath the humour, there’s a simple truth: how we show up matters.
For me, integrity is not a theory.
It’s a daily choice especially when things are uncomfortable, unclear or feel unfair.
One of the simplest ways I explain this to teams is the idea of being above the line or below the line.
Above the line is where we take ownership. We stay honest. We listen. We ask questions. We look at our part before blaming someone else. It’s where we choose curiosity over judgement, responsibility over excuses, and respect over ego.
Below the line is where things slip. Blame, gossip, withholding information, defensiveness, or quietly undermining others. Most people don’t set out to work this way but pressure has a way of revealing habits.
And that matters, because behaviour shapes culture.
The way we respond in a meeting, an email, or a difficult conversation doesn’t just impact us, it impacts everyone around us. Culture is built in those small moments.
Workplaces are not always easy environments to navigate.
There are people who will throw you under the bus.
Some who are supportive until they aren’t. Others who simply don’t act like team players. That tension can leave you questioning whether doing the right thing actually works.
That’s where integrity becomes a line in the sand.
For me, staying above the line means choosing the behaviour I can stand by, regardless of what others do. It doesn’t mean being naïve. It means being clear, fair and accountable while still holding boundaries.