What is Integrity?

According to the oxford dictionary, integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Another dictionary states that it is a steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. To make these statements easier to understand, we’ll use a phrase that we throw around every day. “Talk and do.”

That’s what partly describes an individual with integrity. They do what they say they will do. In other words, they keep to their promises. In this world, it is a hard thing to do what you’ve promised to do, always. Circumstances arise that make you want to, or even, entirely stop considering making good on your promise. At certain times, it is easier to rescind, to go back on your words.

A man with no integrity will do so without batting an eyelid; he will break his promise and justify it with selfish reasons like, “Love your neighbor as yourself, not more than yourself.” Even though this statement might be true, he chose to employ it when it best suits him.

Remember that the dictionary definition mentioned “being honest” and “having strong moral principles”? Keeping your promise is only a part of having integrity. There are other parts, such as being honest and upholding your strong moral standards. These other parts, which we will discuss as we go on, makes up integrity.

Components of Integrity:

To have integrity is to rise above all temptation to take short cuts around your moral standards. It means you must not give in when it seems to be the easiest thing to do. With all these “be a person of integrity talk”, it is not easy to be one. It takes mastering little different attributes that makeup integrity. These attributes or aspects are discussed below.

Respect:

Respect, they say, is reciprocal. How you treat other people, whether older, younger, more affluent, or poorer, goes a long way in determining if you have integrity or not. It is almost automatic to give reverence to people who are older than us in certain cultures. In that same culture, however, it is not uncommon to see older people being disrespected for the sole reason that they are not as rich as some others.

To start your journey towards integrity, you must treat the janitor the same way you treat the CEO. You are not to let the less privileged feel less of a human because they do not have the material or physical possessions others have.

Honesty:

The principal ingredient in making the integrity dish is honesty. An honest person is every good person’s friend. They will not tell lies to save their neck, talk less of implicating someone. An honest person is that one people can defend anywhere and when an allegation that goes against his character is leveled against him/her.

An honest newbie in a business is more likely to last longer in the business than a crooked veteran in the business. In Corporations, honest individuals receive the best recommendations for promotions. Why is that? We will see later on.

Trustworthiness:

To be trusted is golden. It is a thing of joy and pride when people can leave their belongings around you and not fear that it may go missing when they return. As I said earlier, an honest employee will get the best recommendations from his/her employer because they are genuine. This is so, not just because they are open, but also because their honesty has earned them trust with their employer.

A trustworthy person gives other people peace of mind because they’re sure they’ll get the job done. They will deliver as they have promised.

Responsibility:

Responsibility is something that is taught from childhood. It can be adopted later in life, but it is easier to cultivate infancy responsibility.

The lack of responsibility makes a man father a child but refuses to take up the financial, mental, and social burden that comes with fatherhood.

It is the responsibility that makes you own up to your own mistakes and apologize for falling short of expectations.

Responsibility is what makes you take your commitment to other people and yourself seriously.

Pride:

Often misunderstood, pride is an essential part of integrity. It is not the pompous address of people, but the conscious understanding that a deviation from the good image you’ve created for yourself will leave a shame that may never wash off.

Pride keeps you in check when you’re about to make a decision that goes against your integrity. As opposed to popular opinion, pride isn’t a bad thing; it is an essential quality everyone should have. However, we must put it in check when it’s getting excessive.

Importance of integrity

1). Respect;

A man of integrity will no doubt command respect from people because his reputation as a trustworthy person

2). You Become A Leader Naturally

A man of integrity becomes a leader to many because he his admired by people for being reliable and trustworthy hence becoming a mentor to people.

3). You Become A more Confident Person

As a man of integrity you have the confidence of people therefore it enhances the confidence you have in yourself.

Conclusion

The world fears a rude, rebellious, irresponsible, and dishonest person. However, an honest, respectful, trustworthy, and approachable person is loved by all. While the world today exalts dishonesty and term it “being smart,” we need honest people to return the world to the one we knew to be accommodating and warm.

Selfishness and disregard to other people’s feelings can be eradicated with integrity. If you want to be loved, respected, and trusted by your friends, your employer, your neighbor, treat them with respect. Keep your word, earn their trust, and they will, in turn, love, and respect you.