Paterno: Honesty, Integrity Are Cornerstones Of Leadership

March 24, 2000
University Park, PA–Leaders aren’t born, but emerge through their commitment to honesty and integrity, Penn State football coach Joe Paterno told a group of University honor students yesterday.

"To be a successful leader you must have a genuine concern for people and their ability to trust you. Building a team and being a leader starts with your own personal integrity. It’s up to you to make it happen. True success occurs if your values and your integrity have prevailed. That is true success and that defines excellence."

Penn State’s legendary coach discussed integrity and leadership in athletics and in life during the annual Luchinsky Memorial Lecture hosted by the Schreyer Honors College. The lecture series honors Mark Luchinsky, a University scholar and biochemistry major who died in 1995 at the age of 20.

Calling honesty and integrity the cornerstones of leadership, he said they are important qualities because they strongly affect how committed one is to the organization.

"We need to trust each other. We need to trust our bosses. If you ask me to take risks, I’ve got to trust you. And, if you don’t have integrity, that would be difficult.

" In terms of honesty, those who cheat only cheat themselves. They deprive themselves of doing things the right way. They cheat themselves out of the great joy of having to stand for something. You can’t be a leader unless people follow you. And they won’t follow you if you don’t stand for something."

Referring to his coaching career, he said he believes any successful organization must possess strong shared values and goals.

"Everyone on the team should share them. I can’t lead people who don’t believe in what I believe. Coming together is essential if you want to be successful. You can’t have excellence unless the team members are willing to overcome individual preferences and performances."

He told the scholars that there is no blueprint on how to become a leader, noting that some things can be learned in school, but others often come from places you least expect. He encouraged them to look for examples of leadership, citing Eleanor Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. He also urged them to take part in organizations such as the Boy Scouts, and drew applause when he recited the Boy Scout oath.

"All of these things in your background accumulate into your personality," he said. "They will help you when it comes to making leadership decisions. This is a great time you’re experiencing. You’re reading and learning and getting confidence in yourself to be the leader you want to be."

Paterno cited a number of leadership qualities, including:

Faith and Confidence–"You need faith and you have to believe in yourself. I believe and I will do it. I can make it happen. Leaders believe in themselves. They think they will win. You can’t be afraid to lose. If you are afraid, you will lose that forward thrust. If you want to have leadership qualities, don’t be afraid to do what you want to do."

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Recalling that he was asked by a past student body to be their commencement speaker, he said he hesitated in accepting even though it was a great honor. "But my wife, Sue, reminded me that I always said you must do what you’re afraid to do. She shamed me into it."

Commitment–"Look around at the people who want to make a difference and you see that they are totally committed. You can’t lead people unless they get caught up in your total commitment. Unless you have that and believe in what you’re doing, you won’t be able to carry through on what you want to accomplish."

Work and Discipline–"To become a leader you need to work a little longer and a little harder. As I tell my players, discipline yourself to take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves. Don’t do things right some of the time. Do it right all of the time. What’s right is right.

"We have a sign in our locker room asking you to take off your hat as you enter because it’s the right thing to do. Don’t walk on the grass because it’s not the right thing to do.

"Remember that you either get better or worse. You never stay the same. Regardless of your age, something you do today will influence what you are tomorrow."

Involvement and Courage–"You must understand that you can’t sit on the fringe. You must be involved. Leadership also takes moral, mental and physical courage. Without it you can’t lead. If you want to be a leader, you must have the courage to be different and unique. Without courage, you won’t do what you’re afraid to do."

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