Warren Buffett. Illustration: Inc; Photo: Getty Images© Getty Images

Dear Commons Community,

Billionaire Warren Buffett, who will step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of the year, has built one of the most successful companies in history by living out a set of values that are as practical as they are inspiring.

When it comes to hiring, Buffett doesn’t mince words. Skills and experience matter, but if you miss one critical trait, you risk bringing serious damage into your organization.

The Buffett Quote:

“Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you. You think about it; it’s true. If you hire somebody without [integrity], you really want them to be dumb and lazy.”

In a knowledge economy, intelligence is obviously key. And energy fuels passion and productivity. But integrity? It’s the bedrock that holds everything together. Without it, talent becomes dangerous.

In my line of work coaching high-level leaders, integrity is a non-negotiable. I see how employees, colleagues, customers and stakeholders alike respond to their integrity by trusting their decision-making. People working for such leaders know that their actions are transparent, and their judgment sound. In collaborative environments, trustworthy leaders quickly earn a reputation for dependability and accountability—two accelerators of team trust.

How did we end up with Trump!

Tony

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