What is integrity?

Integrity is simple - it means doing what you said you would.  Quite often it is twisted and turned to make it suit a situation but really it is as simple as keeping your word.

It is easy to shoot off at the mouth and say you will do so much, with your intention at the time to do exactly what you have said. But following through can be quite a different matter.

If you do not keep your promises - you are not acting with integrity.
If you keep your promises - you act with integrity.

How often do you follow up? How often do you stop and think – now what did I say I would do? Do you stop to think about how in integrity you are in your life, either professionally or personally.

How would being in integrity in your life change things for you? What would the differences be? What would be the changes within yourself?

We often say things or promise things without thinking about the consequences to ourselves and others. What would the consequences be to yourself if you were constantly making promises and not keeping them?

For example: you said you would be home to take the kids to get something to eat and then go to the theatre for their Friday night treat. You stay late at work to finish something you had forgotten to do, forgetting the promise you had made to your family. Arriving home way too late to go out. Definitely an out of integrity situation.

Example: You arrive home 30 minutes early excited about the night ahead, you have already bought the tickets for the theatre and booked a table close to the theatre at a family restaurant you know is the kids’s favourite. Definitely well in integrity situation.

Keeping your word can be so simple. We often make rash promises that at the time we mean, but following through is quite another thing.  

Deciphering the difference between the promises you do make and the promises you have made in a rash moment helps us to keep in integrity.

Take time out and stop to think if you can follow through with the promises you are making or renegotiate what you said you would do, so that you stay in integrity for yourself and for others.

Make a list of all the things you said you would do and when you said you would do them. Are you in or out of integrity? What can you do to get back in integrity?

• List 1: Things I will complete
• List 2: Things I need to renegotiate
• List 3: Things I should back away from

Fill all three lists and then act accordingly. It feels great to be in integrity.

 

Comments

[Pete Aldin]

Aye carumba. My kids catch me on this one all the time! I'm learning to stop just making (what sound like ) easy promises that I'm not actually sure I can back up.

Good post!

[Elly]

Thanks Pete for your post. Me thinks it may have something to do with self-care, maybe being in integrity will be caring for yourself as well as others. After all keeping our word would be a fun way of raising our personal standards.

[Kate Clark]

Elly - this is so right for now. Caught up in life and allowing it to take over is a great way to reak havoc and letting things slide. I've pulled the reins and am excited to revisit why I want to do what I want to do and open my arms to the ways I will get there - within my integrity realms.

Have just started my mentor training to work with Year 6 students at risk of not taking the next step into high school, it really is bringing home just how much you become a role model, confindant and friend - how much I must be true to myself - Children see, children do...

[Elly]

Glad it could be of help Kate. Life is so much better when we put ourselves into self-care. By doing what we say we are going to do. Congratulations on the mentor training and you are exactly right being a role model is so much easier for kids this age to learn. Exactly as you say children see, children do.
All the best for the program.

[Priscilla Palmer]

You have been tagged for The Personal Development List. (See my site for detail), I would love it if you would participate.

[Tuck, The Rebel Belle]

What a great site Elly!! I'm jolly excited to have found you by way of the Personal Development List.

I made a promise that I would post a comment to you before the day was over..and ta da...I did! Looking forward to future postings from you!!

[Elly]

Thanks Tuck, so glad you made it to my site. Isn't it wonderful how we can all connect and not even know each other. If you have anything you would like to know about make some suggestions I am always wanting to know what will be of interest to weblog readers. I think weblogs are great and a great way to meet people. Welcome

[John W. McKenna]

Elly

You’ve been tagged for the “Does Most Leadership Suck Challenge”. Check the link for details.

Take care...

JWM

[Elly]

Hi John,
So sorry I cannot do your challenge as I am a day away from going overseas. Please remember me in your next challenge. Love to see the results when I get back.

[Mel]

I believe that by just being a part of “Priscilla’ Palmer’s Personal Development list obligates each of us to also post this list. You like me (Killeris at “Attitude, the Ultimate Power”) are on this list. If you have already posted it, THANK YOU. If you have not posted it, I am officially putting out a challenge that you add additional sites that fit the theme and post it. This list can be found at: http://mondaymorningpower.blogspot.com/2007/09/personal-development-list-challenge.html