There is a famous saying which perfectly describes integrity. “Honesty is telling the truth to other people, integrity is telling the truth to myself.” Integrity means being honest and having strong moral principles. A person with integrity behaves ethically and does the right thing, even behind closed doors.
For instance, informing a cashier that they gave you too much change or going back to the store to pay for something you forgot to pay for are two examples of showing integrity in everyday circumstances.
Integrity may seem like a vague concept. If you want to encourage integrity at your workplace and live it out for yourself, you might need a more concrete definition. One of the best ways to understand this concept is to look at the traits associated with integrity.
Traits that a person with integrity shows:
- Expressing gratitude for others
- Valuing honesty and openness
- Taking responsibility and accountability for your actions, good and bad
- Respecting yourself and others around you no matter where you are
- Demonstrating reliability and trustworthiness
- Showing patience and flexibility, even when unexpected obstacles show up
- Helps those in need without sacrificing your own health
Benefits that come from a culture of integrity
- Promotes better leaders
- Helps foster an open and positive environment
- Promotes an ethical approach to decision-making
- Encourages diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Promotes strong and resilient teams
- Promotes strong and resilient teams
