ARE YOU A MAN OR WOMAN INTEGRITY?

Integrity is a word that we hear almost every day but we seldom take the time to think about it. Integrity is similar to ethics, honesty, and trustworthiness—they are a moral code of values that affect our behavior. Integrity is about doing the right thing in every situation, whether it’s convenient or not.

The world is so competitive that some people will lie, cheat, and bribe to get what they want, either for themselves or their children (recently the media were full of the stories of celebrities who bribed their way in order to get their children in Ivy League colleges). Some of them are serving terms in jail now.
Integrity is pushed to the side but people who don’t want to be featured on the front page from a scandal will need to scrutinize their lack of integrity and moral codes to a far greater degree than they have in the past. Leaders, born again Christians, entrepreneurs, and business owners must accept that they are held to a higher standard of integrity than others.

Maybe one of the reasons we don’t think about integrity is because it’s the opposite of self-interest. We’ve devolved into a “me” culture that promotes self above others. While that might be acceptable in small doses, it can have a toxic effect when it bleeds over into our behavior in business and life. We need to be mentally tough to hold ourselves to a higher moral standard.
The best way to detect a lack of integrity in others is to listen to what they say and watch what they do. Take note of the following:

1. They Do The Right Thing—When They’ve Got An Audience
   Integrity is usually defined as doing the right thing when no one is watching. A person who lacks integrity will make decisions based on how it will make them look rather than how it will benefit others. They look at their actions as a performance to be rated for approval rather than a step toward doing the right thing for the community.
   Watch out because these people tend to yearn for the spotlight and will do whatever it takes to get there—even if it means doing the right thing, but only in front of an audience. Pay attention to how they make decisions when no one watches over them. Observe how they treat people who are lower in rank or status.
   In situations where you’re not sure whether or not you’ve lost your moral compass, ask yourself, “Did I do the right thing?” Take the time to really think through the answer. If there is a doubt, find another way.
   
2. If It’s Legal, It’s Ethical
   Former Valeant CEO Michael Pearson testified to a Senate committee hearing he regretted that he pursued acquisitions where the rationale for the deal rested on increased prices of the medicine. It wasn’t illegal, but the public didn’t like it. Valeant stock took a nosedive and the company had to change their name to shed the scandal.
   The law is enforced by the state or federal government with penalties for violations but ethics is far broader than the law. Ethics and integrity imply good conduct as determined by the values and customs of society. Our moral codes of behavior inform us when we’ve crossed the line—lying, betrayal, nepotism. These behavior are wrong, but they may not necessarily be illegal.
   Watch for these behaviors: People who lie, break promises, make decisions based on greed, or cheat on their spouses may not necessarily break the law, but they are unethical and lack integrity.
   Integrity is self-motivated and based on your values. Take time to think about the values that drive your behavior. Are they something you’re proud of? Would you want them printed in your obituary? Your sincere answers are very important.
   
3. They Don’t Care About Little White Lies
   A lack of integrity usually starts small and rolls down a slippery slope from there. Very few people wake up one morning and say, “I’ve decided I’m going to do something unethical.” Instead, it’s shortcuts, laziness, carelessness, and greed that triggers the behavior. Small concessions that, at first, don’t seem like a big deal especially if they can land a big sale, favorable performance appraisal, or a corner office.
   A recent study by the Harvard Business Review found that people who lack integrity are more likely to rationalize their conduct if it isn’t presented as an abrupt change. Researchers found that if they could get people to cheat a little the first time, they’d be willing to cheat a bit more the second time, and finally cheat “big” the third time.
   Anytime you hear someone say, “It’s just a little white lie,” give them a wide berth. It’s the thinking of a poor leader who’s philosophy incorporates excuses and a tendency to blame others for their mistakes.
   “The safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”—C. S. Lewis.
   Be accountable to others who will nudge you in the right direction. Help each other acknowledge and address your problems before it spills into unethical or greedy behavior that can get out of control. Even small reminders and nudges can deter undesirable behavior.
   (Culled From Psychology Today). Continue next week.

ONE OTHER THING:

The Bible says the Soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:5). The world will tell us if it feels good, do it. The prince of this World (Satan) is enticing us to sin and disobey God all day long, every day of our lives. Satan’s agents are constantly inviting us to enjoy ourselves while God and His ministers are quietly warning us that sins lead to death. Sin fascinates, then assassinates. My good people, it is good to obey and honor God.

As you honor and obey God, He will make you stand out in your career, in your family and in the body of Christ. Your gifts and talents will stand out anywhere you find yourself. You will become excellent and inspiring in your career that people around you will know who you are: a child of destiny who is highly favored and who is willing and ready to use his/her influence not for self-aggrandizement but to advance the kingdom of God. May you receive such grace beginning from now.