Integrity
Definition
Consistently adhering to strong personal values
What is it?
A person of integrity lives by a code of ethics and high moral standards that others respect and admire. They always tell the truth.
Why is it important?
Employers, friends, and business colleagues all want to deal with people who have integrity. If we withhold or compromise the truth, people will quickly learn that we cannot be trusted. And if we over-inflate our strengths or successes, people will eventually discount our abilities.
Suggestions for Improvement
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Define Your Core Values
First, identify your three most important virtues. One of the best ways to build integrity is first to define the kind of person we want to be. How do we want to be known by others? We should be able to identify three core values that we wish to live out consistently. Write them down. Evaluate your performance regularly to determine if those values are evident in your life. Ask others if they see these values lived out on a consistent basis.
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Always Tell the Truth
Second, make an unwavering commitment to telling the truth – always. We have to resist the urge to cover up our mistakes or to make ourselves look better than we really are. Instead, we should candidly acknowledge our mistakes and weaknesses and learn from them. Doing so also helps us to err on the side of humility rather than grandiosity. Let others brag on us. We don’t need to do it ourselves.
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Don’t Criticize Others
Finally, we need to be careful not to criticize others or make them look bad in order to elevate our own status. Be honest about other people. Strive to think the best of others and give them the benefit of the doubt. Being honest with and about ourselves and other people is at the heart of integrity.
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