If I were asked what one value or attribute to live by it would be that integrity is forever. Integrity means doing the right thing at all times, whether anyone is watching or not. As we mature in our lives … both professionally and personally … we learn that successes will come and go. It is important to be consciously aware and intentional about your integrity. It takes courage to do the right thing no matter what the consequences. Building a reputation with good integrity takes time … takes years, but it only takes a second to lose. So never allow yourself to do anything that would damage your integrity.
It is my belief that integrity is not discussed enough in the education system … at any age. Business leaders expect loyalty and integrity but few plainly and clearly express their perspectives on integrity or discuss it at all. Today’s world has a lot of compromise and hedging to avoid conflict or misunderstandings. Some are quite clever at “wordsmithing” things whereby what they say can be interpreted more than one way. This is especially true in politics and has become more prevalent in sales and marketing tactics as well as other areas of our daily lives. This has become an acceptable school of thought for far too many. A few examples are:
- Job applicants exaggerate in job interviews (and resumes) because they desperately need a job.
- Sales people overpromise and under deliver … all with the intent to meet the pressure for making their quota for the month, quarter, etc.
- Entrepreneurs overstate their proformas because they want the highest valuation possible from an investor.
- Customer service representatives cover up a mistake they made because they are afraid the client will leave them.
- CEOs overstate their projected earnings because they don’t want the board of directors to replace them.
- Investors understate a company’s value in order to negotiate a lower valuation in a deal.
- Employees call in “sick” when they aren’t but don’t have any more paid time off when they actually need to do something personal such as Christmas shop.
This list could go on-and-on and in each situation the person has convinced himself or herself that they have a perfectly valid reason “because everyone does it.” Cutting corners and acting without integrity in small matters leads to a habit that spills over into all matters … not to mention they set examples for others (including their kids). A little white lie or just plain dishonesty may provide short-term gratification but it rarely works long term.
The value of trust that others have in you is far greater than anything that can be measured. For an entrepreneur it may mean that investors are willing to trust them with their money. For employees it may mean a boss that is willing to trust them with additional responsibility and promotion. For companies it may mean customers trusting them more and, therefore, giving them more business or a recommendation to others. For you it enables you to build a cadre of people that are willing to speak up for you because they know that recommending you to others will never bring damage to their reputation of integrity. And people of integrity are very conscious of who and how they recommend others.
This subject always reminds me of a quote I read from Warren Buffet: “In looking for people to hire, look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don’t have the first one, the other two will kill you.” In other words, a person’s dishonesty will eventually catch up to them. One of the first suggestions I have is to avoid those who are not trustworthy. Do not do business with them. Do not associate with them. Do not be enticed into believing that while they may be dishonest with others, they would never be dishonest with me. When you stop and think that over the answer becomes obvious.
I remember traveling with a colleague to make a presentation to a major prospect we were working in tandem to land for our separate companies. We felt that together we could help each other and score a win-win for us both. That morning on our way to breakfast he stopped to get a newspaper out of a newspaper dispenser and when he put his money in and opened the dispenser he took out two and gave one to me when he had only paid for one. I immediately thought, if he can’t be trusted in the simple matters of honesty how can he be trusted in a pressure or complex business matter. In that small instance a lot transpired between us in an unspoken manner. It is important to realize that others pay attention to those you have chosen to associate with, and they will eventually judge your character by the character of your friends. It reminds me of that old saw: when you lie down with dogs you get fleas. We inevitably become more and more like the people we surround ourselves with day to day. Therefore, if you want to build a reputation as a person of integrity then surround yourself with people of integrity.
What are your thoughts on integrity?
© Phil Hoffman 2013. All rights reserved
I Am Phil Hoffman 