Having integrity means having moral and strong values that guide your actions without having an expectation of receiving an award for doing them. It means doing what is right when no one is watching because your motivation is not for the approval of others, but out of a deep desire to stick to your principles. Integrity in the workplace is the core of a healthy and thriving work environment, because necessary characteristics like accountability and professionalism cannot exist without integrity.
Five attributes of integrity:
1- Respect
An integral person honors and respects coworkers, especially when conflicts arise. You have social skills that help you manage conflict in a way that is not passive nor aggressive, but assertive. It’s a method that firmly gets its message across without disrespecting any party.
2- Honesty
It’s important to tell the truth without fear and communicate with others with complete transparency. Honesty around topics such as time, expectations, and abilities is necessary for a person who lives with integrity.
3- Punctuality
Part of being integral is to value other people’s time. Even if other people show up late, an integral employee keeps their word when they specify a time to meet.
4- Dependability
An integral person is known for their work ethic because their words are followed through with actions to the extent that coworkers and employers know that they can count on them to meet deadlines or get tasks done.
5- Non Compromise in Values
A person who lives with integrity lives with strong principles and does not compromise them for the sake of pleasing others. They don’t compromise in their values even when faced with adversity, and even when it won’t be beneficial to them.
How to work with integrity in the workplace:
1- Don’t share confidential information/ gossip about coworkers
This traces back to living with genuinity and sincerity. If you give your word to someone that you won’t spread private information, then it’s the integral thing to stick to your word. If you can’t find the courage to say something to your coworkers face, then avoid sharing it in their absence with other coworkers. Gossip culture sucks the integrity out of any workplace and fosters an environment of hostility.
2- Report unethical behavior
As a person with ethics, it’s your responsibility to report any unethical behavior that you witness in the workplace. Make sure to privately speak to your immediate supervisor and to report from a place of concern rather than a place of self-righteousness.
3- Admit when a mistake is made
An integral person not only tells the truth, but lives with accountability. They don’t throw the blame on others but their honesty makes them own up to their own shortcomings and mistakes.
4- Work your hours
Being integral means making the most out of the working hours that you’re being paid for, rather than slacking off and wasting time. Working hard with intentionality is a reflection of your character and work ethic, and will definitely be the thing that will make or break your reputation at work.
Reflection Question:
- How have I demonstrated a lack of integrity in my work?
- Do I tend to share information that was explicitly described as confidential?
- Have I witnessed any unethical behavior that I refuse to report out of fear?
- How do I handle conflicts with others in the workplace?
