3 Essentials of Integrity | Breakthrough Training™

What is integrity? Integrity is the quality of being whole or undivided with strong ethical and moral principals

What is integrity? The practice of implementing strong ethical and moral principles adhering to truth and commitments even when placed in challenging situations. We hear a lot about it being tied to our success, but do we know what it means to prioritize it above personal gain? The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness should come naturally. At some point in our daily life, we will come face to face with our own ethical dilemmas. Life’s challenges will test our decision-making skills. We will be faced with the decision to either honor ourselves and our commitments or abandon our ethical principles and display a lack of integrity.

Some examples of integrity are quality buildings, space rockets, boats, and cars. These are known to have structural integrity, and excellent computer software programs are known to have data integrity. The Smithsonian is chocked full of items with artistic integrity. So, when we live an honest life, we create confidence, credibility, dependability, and trust—not only with others but with ourselves.

Here are three tools to live life with integrity:

1. Do the right thing.

Water runs downhill by following the path of least resistance. But when it comes to integrity, doing the laziest task is not always right. What is integrity in the workplace? It is doing the right thing, even if it means you may not immediately benefit from the solution personally. It is the practice of being true to your word. It’s easy to give half of your effort on a project, but that’s not right. Those poor character traits will significantly affect your professional integrity. Your work ethic is a personal representation of you to others. A lack of trustworthiness in the work environment will trickle into your personal life. If the concept of this is difficult for you, refer back to company policies and protocols. Maintain open communication with your HR department; seek leadership training if you don’t have that resource. Do you have a role model or a person of integrity that you admire? Reach out to them. Asking for assistance conveys bravery to others, not weakness. Expanding your core values is admirable. When in doubt, put in the extra effort. Hold yourself accountable to others don’t have to. Your team members at the office are as vital to your life as your family members are to your home life. It is easy to do just enough to get by and make average school grades, but that’s not right. It is easy to hit a parked car in a parking lot without leaving a note, but that’s not right. Ultimately, we only cheat ourselves when we don’t do the right thing.

2. Be a person of your word.

Do what you say you are going to do in every aspect of life. You are not practicing accountability when you say one thing and do another. When you say you are going to do something and you don’t do it, does this increase or decrease the way you see yourself and how others see you? What is integrity in friendship? It means you hold truths, keep confidences and go the extra mile despite your own personal gain. When you break your word, you shatter the confidence people have in you—and you in yourself. If you’re going to say it, then do it, or don’t say it. When you are met with a dilemma or adversity of any type, ask yourself, “Is this strengthening or weakening my moral integrity?” Set a plan in your mind to give yourself a moment in times of uncertainty. Integrate a safeguard, a small pause to assess yourself. This small moment in time will allow you to check in with yourself and hold yourself personally accountable for your actions. Resist the urge to flake out on someone. If you run late and have the inability to prioritize time management, work on it! Don’t become complacent in laziness. Be there when you said you would be; it will change your life and the lives of everyone around you.

“No man has a good enough memory to make himself a successful liar.” – Abraham Lincoln

3. Be honest.

What is integrity of your word? It is the practice of stating the truth, keeping a neutral mindset in all situations, and practicing dedication to facts. Own it. Believe that you are forthright and virtuous. Your probity will become infectious. Much like a lit candle cannot hold in its light, your character will naturally begin to inspire others. The dominant quality of integrity is honesty. Mark Twain said, “When you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” As kids, we lie, but hopefully, as adults, our lies stop. When we lie, people quit believing in us, and we also stop believing in ourselves. Perhaps before reading this article, you may not have realized that laziness and a lack of integrity go hand-in-hand. Now you are equipped to start making better decisions and living a more fulfilled life.

These are impressive practices to set yourself apart from the crowd since most people are lacking the right mindset. Grab onto at least one of these habits to make a measurable improvement in the quality of your life.