Integrity is such an aspirational word, isn’t it?
We were all brought up to have integrity. It’s a quality we all admire, expect from others and want for ourselves. It’s something we like to think we have, too. None of us sets out to be dishonest, and we would all probably be quite upset if we thought that the people around us didn’t think that we had integrity. At the end of the day, we all have good intentions.
However, we also see situations every day around us where people’s good intentions are not demonstrated through their actions. What about these situations?
* The office worker who puts his or her personal mail through the company mail system so they don’t need to buy stamps.
* The mom who lies about her son’s age to get a cheaper ticket for him.
* The sales representative who adds a few extra miles onto his or her mileage claim.
* The person who parks in a disabled space because it’s quicker and they’ll only be a short while.
* The person who has a hobby business on the side but doesn’t declare it for tax purposes.
What is more important? Wanting to have integrity, believing you have integrity, or acting with integrity?
Acting. The answer to that is obvious in the cold light of day, but it’s easy to forget in the heat of the moment that our actions are what people see, not our intentions. It’s these actions that our children learn from, not what we tell them; and it’s these actions that are valued by employers, colleagues and clients. Your integrity is quantified by your actions, and nothing else.
So, if that’s the case, then why are our actions so frequently different from our good intentions?
There are so many potential answers to this, whether it’s ‘just this once’, being too busy, not thinking things through, disagreement with ‘the rules’, financial pressure, laziness, peer pressure, or a belief that everyone else does the same. At the end of the day, the reason doesn’t matter; it is a simple truth that if you want to be a person of integrity, then you are responsible for ensuring that your beliefs and values match your day-to-day actions.
Integrity isn’t just about being law-abiding, either. Think of all the other actions which, while not illegal, are still not demonstrating your personal integrity – keeping people’s confidences, being loyal to your partner, doing what you say you will when you say you will, and not gossiping about people. It will also mean different things to different people. It’s about being the4 person you want to be, the person you respect and admire.
So, what are you waiting for? Don’t just think it – be it. It doesn’t matter who knows, or who might be watching. You’re not doing this to be seen; you’re doing it for yourself. It doesn’t matter who knows, because you will know. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life, so get out there and live your intentions each and every day.
