Integrity Isn't What You Think It Is... Part 1

Integrity is NOT a virtue.

It isn't about how good you are as a person or even about you keeping your word.

Integrity isn't about doing things the right way or the wrong way either.

According to the dictionary it is translated "to be whole and complete, integral." There is also the definition that integrity is something like a virtue. The problem with a virtue is sometimes nobody's looking and a virtue is energized when we get some kind of recognition from it. I know some will disagree with that statement and that's really okay. My point here is not to argue but to introduce you to a different interpretation of integrity. One that is about having your business really work and not about some fluffy virtue that you "should" keep to be a good person etc.

Integrity is HONOURING YOUR WORD. That's it. Plain and simple. It is about being whole and complete with what you say out of your mouth. It requires attention to what you say and the ability to remember what you say at any given time.

I remember once that I didn't follow through on a team project with an organization I was a part of. At the end of the project I was cleaning it up with my project leader and she said something that really helped me, "George -it isn't that you didn't do the work our issue is that you DIDN'T TELL US that you weren't going to do the work!" Now think about that... it was because I didn't honour my words to her -not that I didn't keep my agreement.

Keeping your agreements is great but if you are human like me then you know that you will never keep all your agreements in your life you will inevitably fail to keep your word at some point -that is where honouring your word is powerful and key in having your life work.

More on integrity tomorrow...