7 Ways To Develop Your Integrity In Life and Work
Published February 28, 2020 | 5 min read
Too often in business we are faced with people who lack a moral compass.
Sadly, it appears that some have lost the ability to act or perform with integrity.
They will do things that they know are not right and often blame others for their actions.
They will enter into agreements making promises to terms that they know won’t be met, but yet, still move forward in order to make the other party conform to their precarious agendas.
Having integrity is a personality trait that we seek in others when considering if we will do business with them.
Having integrity is the ability to act with honesty and have our words be congruent with our actions.
Personal Integrity
There are ways to have mutually beneficial relationships that continue to flourish as they grow.
Treating people respectfully and thinking of their needs plays a great role in business and in personal relationships.
Make sure you are practicing the art of integrity.
Your actions will be noticed by others and maybe even inspire them to live a life of integrity as well.
For more inspiration, don’t forget to also read our collection of integrity quotes on leading by example all the time, as well as these character quotes and sayings.
Here are 7 ways To Make Sure The Art Of Integrity Is Not Lost:
1. Think Of Others Needs First
You have the ability to get the results you want from others while making them feel genuinely good about themselves, about the process, and about you when you put their needs first.
2. Have The Courage To Say NO!
Have the courage to say no to something you do not believe in.
Sometimes people will try to convince you that what they are asking you to do is right.
If it does not feel right then it is wrong.
Stay true to your core value system and just say NO!
“The strongest thing that any human being has going is their own integrity and their own heart.
As soon as you start veering away from that, the solidity that you need in order to be able to stand up for what you believe in and deliver what’s really inside, it’s just not going to be there.”- Herbie Hancock
3. Take Ownership For Poor Behavior
We are not perfect; we can have a bad day, and we can make mistakes.
When we do so we should always take ownership of our behavior, apologize and make a note to ourselves to steer away from things that may trigger a poor reaction from us in the future.
People are willing to be more forgiving and will respect you more if you apologize.
It doesn’t make you a bigger person when you admit you are wrong.
It makes you a person of integrity when recognize and own the fact that you were not right.
4. Don’t Gossip
Gossiping hurts everyone.
It can hurt the person you are speaking about, and it can hurt your reputation.
Some people may listen to what is said, but make no mistake, they will know in the future that you could very well be repeating something unfavorable about them too.
If you are wondering if something you are about to repeat will be considered as gossip then follow the old adage of,” If you have to ask… then you know that it is.”
5. Do The Right Thing Even When Nobody’s Watching
It is important to always do the right thing even when we think nobody’s watching.
The truth is someone is always watching how you handle a situation and they are deducing if you are conducting yourself in a manner that holds true to integrity.
You never know who is watching and what opportunities could come your way by practicing an integrious life.
6. Never Exchange Integrity For Money
It can sometimes be tempting to overlook others poor behaviors when money is involved.
The thing that people often fail to realize is once your reputation is tarnished it is hard to earn it back.
In the end, the one thing people can not take away from us is our integrity.
You can always find another way to make more money, but your reputation is developed and earned over time.
It is better to have short-term cash loss than long-term respect loss.
7. Know When To Walk Away
When you are dealing with someone who shows a continuous lack of integrity you need to know when to walk away.
Walking away from them and the situation will free up your time for better opportunities to come along.
You can’t be in the right relationships when you are in the wrong ones.
“One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised.”- Chinua Achebe
Always practice a lifestyle of integrity and if someone without integrity speaks poorly of you their words will fall on deaf ears.
No one believes someone who has lost the art of practicing integrity!
