The Key to a Lasting Legacy

Sarah realised she and her teammates had made a really big mistake last week.
And what's worse is that she only realised it now. The mistake was a major one as this will affect the whole company's operation.

This could cost her and her teammates their jobs.

That is why when Sarah pointed the mistake out to them, they told her not to look at it anymore nor tell anyone about it, especially their supervisor.

They told her that the mistake could not be pinpointed to them anyway unless one of them would speak out about it.

Despite her team persuading her to act as if nothing happened, Sarah, staying true to her values, pointed this out to her supervisor.

Her supervisor was upset.

He has given Sarah and her team some tremendous scolding. However, he cannot apply sanctions nor fire them as he was the one who was supposed to QA the team's work at that time.

And sanctioning them would mean that the higher-ups would also question him as to why he wasn't able to pick this up during QA. He had a whole day to do it but did not.

He does not want his higher-ups to discover that he was watching the baseball championships online instead of QAing his team's work.

So, like the rest of Sarah's teammates, he told her not to speak about this to anyone, and if the higher-ups investigated, they would deny making any of these mistakes.

He was sure that if none of them would "squeal" about this, the whole team would be totally safe from the possibility of receiving sanctions or losing their jobs.

Most of the team agreed to this, except for Sarah.

Ever since she started working for the company, Sarah promised herself to stay true to her values, stand up for her truth, and honour whatever contract she signed.

And now, she is conflicted.

If she does what the team says, she will be able to keep her high-paying job. This means being able to pay her bills, help her family, go to a nice gym, eat out and buy the things she wants.

If she listens to her conscience, there is a probability that she and her teammates will lose their jobs. However, when she does this, it will save the whole company.

After minutes of contemplating, Sarah decided to stay true to her values and to listen to her conscience.
She knows many people will lose their jobs in the long run if she did not point out the mistake and that if she doesn't do what is right, her conscience will eat her alive for the rest of her life.

So, Sarah went to her boss's office and told him about the mistake they had made. She did not put the blame on her teammates, nor did she rat them out. Sarah just told her boss objectively and truthfully what had happened.

And to her surprise, her boss thanked her for her honesty instead of firing her. He told her that if not for her honesty, the company would have lost millions and would eventually shut down.

Because of her integrity, Sarah received the admiration and respect of all the company's staff and employees. Her boss also promoted her to supervisor and gave her an increase in her salary.

Indeed, practising integrity enables you to succeed personally and professionally. As Sarah demonstrated, integrity may not always be the easiest path, but it is the right one and pays off in the long run.

How about you? How would you rate your integrity if you were to rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10? If you were in Sarah's shoes, what would you do?

Practising Integrity in the Modern World

I bet that if you ask a million people, including yourself and me, if we would like to live a life of integrity, most of us would give a "YES" for an answer.

Who, after all, wouldn't desire a life that is free from pretensions and lies? It's similar to asking individuals whether they want to be healthy or not. Of course, they do!

However, in today's world, where we are taught that the "end justifies the means" and where people are often encouraged to put their best foot forward, practising integrity is easier said than done. It's easy to fall into the trap of prioritising the opinions and expectations of others over our values and principles. This can often lead to a lack of transparency and honesty in our actions and decisions.

However, not practising integrity can lead to damaging consequences. A company that overpromises but underdelivers will eventually damage its reputation and lose customers. Employees who lie to cover up their mistakes will eventually lose the trust of their employers and colleagues. Job applicants who exaggerate their skills may struggle to meet the expectations once hired. And the list goes on.

This means that although being dishonest might offer instant gratification or benefit, it is a short-lived satisfaction and won't endure over time.

What is Integrity, and why is it important?

 

Integrity means doing the right thing at all times and in all circumstances, whether or not anyone is watching. It also means being consistent in what you think, feel, and do and not being divided within yourself.

Similar to Sarah, people who practice integrity are honest and truthful. Their actions are also consistent with their values. They are transparent in their dealings, take responsibility for their actions, and are accountable for their mistakes. They prioritise doing what is right over what is convenient, even when faced with challenging situations. Aside from that, they are reliable; others can trust them to keep their word and follow through on their commitments.

A study published in the Journal of Business Ethics found that individuals who demonstrate integrity are more effective at building trust, developing relationships, and achieving organisational goals. They are more likely to experience job satisfaction and excel in whatever career or industry they are in.

Indeed, integrity is crucial to building and maintaining trust in all kinds of relationships, be it business or personal. Without it, your interactions become shallow, and your successes will lack true value.

So, how do you develop this valuable competency?

Developing integrity is not always easy, but it is possible with practice and dedication. Here are a few strategies for developing this valuable competency:

Identify Your Core Values. The first step in developing integrity is to identify your core values. What is most important to you? What do you believe in? Take time to reflect on these questions and identify the values most important to you. Once you have identified your core values, use them to guide your actions and decisions.

Be Honest. Honesty is a key component of integrity. Practice being honest in your interactions, even if it is not the easiest or most convenient choice. This might mean admitting when you have made a mistake or being transparent about your intentions.

Keep Your Commitments. When you commit, follow through on it. This might mean meeting a deadline, keeping a promise, or fulfilling an obligation. If you cannot fulfil a commitment, be honest about the situation and work to find a fair solution for all parties involved.

Admit Your Mistakes. No one is perfect, and we all make mistakes from time to time. So, when you do make a mistake, take responsibility for it and make things right. This might mean apologising to someone you have wronged or taking steps to correct the situation.

Be Accountable. Practice being accountable for your actions and decisions. This means taking responsibility for the consequences of your choices and doing what you can to mitigate any negative outcomes.

Seek Feedback. Finally, seek feedback from others on your behaviour and actions. Ask people you trust to provide honest feedback on how you are doing in terms of practising integrity, and be open to their suggestions for improvement.

Have yourself coached and trained in Emotional Intelligence. Improving your emotional intelligence is a valuable step towards developing integrity. Emotional intelligence enables you to develop your integrity by strengthening your self-awareness, enabling you to become more aware of your values and beliefs. It will also help you healthily navigate your emotions and control your behaviour which can help you make better decisions and avoid lying. By investing in emotional intelligence training, you can gain the skills to act with integrity and make ethical choices.

Embrace Integrity: A Lifelong Commitment to Personal and Professional Growth

Integrity is a vital emotional intelligence competency that plays a crucial role in your personal and professional growth. It is the key to a lasting legacy. Although it may not be easy to practice, it pays off in the long run, just as Sarah's story demonstrates.

Therefore, reflect on your values and principles and consider how you can practice integrity in your daily life. Staying true to your values and doing the right thing even when no one is watching will build trust, respect, and a strong reputation.

Remember that integrity is not just a one-time decision but a lifelong commitment to doing what is right, no matter the circumstances. So, strive to be a person of integrity and make a positive impact in the lives of the people around you.

We are Here to Help

At   People Builders, we have a team of expert trainers and coaches who can help you and your team develop Emotional Intelligence, Integrity and many other competencies.   
Contact us today for a quick chat to see how we can partner with you to train and coach you and your team.    

If you want to become a certified trainer and coach in Social and Emotional Intelligence or Extended DISC Behavioural Profiling, find out how by visiting the People Builders Institute website.