5.2 Lack of integrity
Integrity is always high on the list in surveys of leadership skills or when recruiting leaders. The Oxford English Dictionary (2017) defines it as:
Soundness of moral principle; the character of uncorrupted virtue, especially in relation to truth and fair dealing; uprightness, honesty, sincerity.
It might also be described as always doing the right thing and being honest.
Amster (2015) offers the following tips to help you strengthen your integrity in the workplace:
- Fulfil your promises
- Keep appointments
- Before you make a commitment, reflect on whether you can deliver
- Get comfortable with saying no.
A Mind Tools (n.d.) editorial on ‘Preserving integrity’ recommends analysing every choice that you make and asking yourself the following questions:
- If my choice were printed on the front page of the newspaper for everyone to see, would I feel OK about it?
- If I make this choice, will I feel OK with myself afterwards?
Tips like these can provide a helpful checklist if you’re unsure about how to proceed.