Albert Einstein has said, ““Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.”
Integrity does not depend on circumstances! You either have integrity or you don’t. It doesn’t matter the size of the issue, or who is watching. Integrity is your actions based on your values.
Officially, Integrity is defined as adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
Your integrity should be visible to your team. Here are three thoughts about allowing integrity to be reflected in your actions:
1. Check your motives. Make sure your motives also reflect your moral and ethical principles. Sometimes moral and ethical actions can be driven by the wrong motives. What appears to be right is driven by the wrong reasons. Always review your motives for taking action.
2. Align with your values. Your actions are just a reflection of your values. You can be misguided by short term objectives. How would your actions be viewed by others? Do your actions match who you are? Strive to match your actions with who you want to be. You can grow to be the best version of yourself.
3. Be honest. Be honest always. You are either an honest person, or you are not. Honesty is a choice. If you tell a lie to someone, and they determine it is a lie, you will never be honest again in their mind. There may be times when it is better not to answer, than to tell the truth. You must determine if the truth will endanger or hurt another person. Honesty is the number one characteristic people seek in their leaders. You can establish integrity by always being honest.
Do not think of integrity as your reputation. Your reputation is what other people think of you. Integrity is within you. You can reflect your true level of integrity with your actions.