As a leader, lining up what we say and what we do is imperative.  Character and integrity are measures of how closely what someone says lines up with what they do.  Retired Medtronic CEO Bill George makes this point in his book Authentic Leadership: “If you want to see employees become cynical, just watch what happens when the top executives behave in ways inconsistent with the company values.”  He’s right because leadership is all about setting a positive example for others.  There’s an Italian saying that “a fish rots from the head down.” I believe this is true in business—if things aren’t well in a company and you’re the leader, the first place to look is in a mirror—not out a window.  How does a leader exhibit true character? To me, it comes down to a lot of simple but extraordinarily important actions, such as:

• Taking the blame when you’ve made a mistake. It’s the right thing to do and it increases your credibility with your team. Jim Collins has said that “Great leaders look in a mirror when there is a mistake and look out a window when there is a success.” 
• Giving away credit. In my experience, doing so rewards you at a rate of at least ten times what you gave away. It’s amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit.
• Being willing to make mistakes. As my father, Ted Salonek, taught me, “if you do nothing, you’ll make no mistakes.” So don’t be afraid to try and don’t be afraid to fail.
  

The mirror and window concept of a leader is discussed in depth by Jim Collins in his definition of a “Level 5” leader, which he calls the highest level of leadership and defines as "fierce will combined with humility." This combination makes the leader put the interest of the company ahead of his personal interest.  

Tom’s Takeaway:  True leaders take the blame when they've made a mistake but are quick to give away credit to others.