Written by Horng Yuan | Photo by Reinhard Dietrich on Wikimedia Commons
Do you keep to yourself confidential information meant for you only and not disclose to others?
Do you fulfill your promises made to others?
Do you return the extra change the cashier accidentally gave you?
Do you hide no secrets from your spouse and life partner?
Do you make sure all information is on the table and nothing is left out when making business deals?
Do you adhere to your organisation’s policies and procedures?
Do not refrain yourself from using resources for work for personal gain?
Do you own up to your mistakes and do not shift blame to others?
If your answer to each question is an honest "yes", well done, you have integrity!
What Is Integrity?
It has been said that the definition of integrity can be vague. While it can be true that integrity may be something that is not easy to define, we do recognise it when we see it. It seems that people either have it or they don’t. People of integrity are usually those who are honest about themselves, have good and consistent values and moral principles, and possess admirable characters.
According to Schindler and Thomas, integrity is one of the five underlying components or elements of trust besides competence, consistency, loyalty, and openness. Integrity is simply honesty and sincerity; a person of integrity will say what he or she means and mean what he or she says. Integrity is reflected in one’s ability to honestly share or disclose his or her beliefs, values, thoughts, and feelings. Among the five elements mentioned, integrity is most important; competence, consistency, loyalty, and openness are likely meaningless without integrity.
Closing Integrity Gaps
Integrity gaps can happen in any individual. They occur when our daily actions are inconsistent and do not match our values. We are misaligned with our core values; what we do does not reflect who we are. An integrity gap can widen if you leave it unchecked and undealt with. A wide gap will lead to broken trust, unhealthy relationships, a bad rapport, and on a more serious note, the loss of job, frauds, lawsuits, and even jail time. An important aspect of self-leadership and personal growth is the development of integrity and closing any integrity gap. The following are 3 things you cannot afford to neglect.
1. Create accountability
Being accountable means you are willing to be completely responsible for what you say and do, and that you will give satisfactory reasons for the things you do. Being accountable helps you clarify and become cautious of what you do, why you do it, when you do it, to or with whom you do it, and how you do it. In life, you should be accountable to people such as your parents, life partner, family members, and friends. In the working world, the accountability system should involve your boss, manager, team leader, colleagues, business partners, or a mentor.
As you advance in years and move up the corporate ladder, you may find yourself in a position where there are less people or even no one to be accountable to. This is unfavourable to you and you need to be more intentional in creating accountability for yourself, lest you find yourself on a pedestal, isolated and vulnerable to your blind spots and weaknesses. Continuous accountability will ensure uninterrupted check-and-balance, and check-ins and check-ups for your mental and emotional health.
2. Allow space for questioning and disagreement
Part of being accountable is to allow space for questioning and disagreement. You will hinder the development of healthy relationships when you cannot tolerate questions and disallow others to query your intentions, agendas, and actions, and to disagree with you. Note that queries, differences in opinions, and disapproval are part and parcel of mature conversations and effective communication.
Do not feel threatened when those close to you or in authority question you. Be open, listen to their questions, and answer accordingly. Support your answers with truth, facts, and evidence. Good questioning can expose flawed thinking, unfaithfulness to personal core values, selfish intentions, blind spots, moral failures, and misconduct. It also brings better clarity and re-aligns you to your principles and values.
When there is disagreement, find out why it happens. Always give those who disagree with you room to speak up and share their thoughts and concerns. View their feedback as a gift and investment that can add value to your life. After all, it is alright to agree to disagree.
3. Admit your mistakes, apologise, and do not repeat them
When you have been “found out” and “talked to” about an integrity issue, avoid denying it, shifting blame, and justifying your action. Consider the advice by Stephen Covey, “Don’t argue for other people’s weaknesses. Don’t argue for your own. When you make a mistake, admit it, correct it, and learn from it - immediately”.
Be courageous and admit your mistake, and sincerely apologise. Be responsible for what you have done and do not be afraid to face the music. Moving forward, make every effort not to repeat the mistake; repeating the wrongdoing indicates you have not learned your lesson. If you do not intend to change, your integrity gap will widen and the consequences that come with it will likely be bigger and more devastating.
Conclusion
Integrity is a cornerstone of healthy relationships in life and work. So, make it your aim and mission to humbly close any integrity gap. You will enjoy the many benefits that come with it!
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