Integrity plays a vital role in the workplace. Trust, honesty, and compassion that comes with this value measure more than just the perception of an employee, an employer, and the organization. It builds a collective culture of accountability and an insight of kind objectivity that makes a workplace a safe and reliable environment. While anyone can say that they have integrity, there are major observable and instinctive behaviors which can determine if someone has true integrity.
They Take Responsibility for Their Actions
When a person owns up to an action, whether it’s good or bad, you have found a level of honesty that’s frankly difficult to find. It’s not the easiest thing to do but they still choose to do it.
They Know When to Put the Needs of Others Before Them
When individualism is often the center today’s world, especially in the workplace where individual performance is so closely judged upon, a person with integrity rises by placing the needs of others who need it more than them. Recognition is the farthest thing from their mind as their main interest is to help other people and to do the right thing.
They Give the Benefit of the Doubt
“Don’t judge the book by its cover.” This phrase is amplified by persons who will always give anyone a second, even multiple, thoughts before giving their judgment. They know that what’s on the surface may not always be the real thing.
They Choose to be Honest in All Things
It’s too easy to lie but someone with integrity will ignore this impulse, even for white lies, to always give you honesty. This is a person you can always rely on giving real feedback.
They Don’t Discriminate When Showing Respect
A person with integrity shows respect to everyone with no heed to their status, appearance, and other “qualifying” traits. These are the type of people who are always understanding of those in customer service.
They Know the Difference Between Confidence and Arrogance
Integrity can be equated with humility. A person who is proud of their accomplishments can’t be called arrogant unless they become self-indulgent. Persons with integrity know how to draw the line between confidence and arrogance. They know their strengths as well as their weaknesses.
They Radiate Kindness
A person with integrity recognize the power of kindness and they practice it regularly. Being mean doesn’t give you strength, it just makes you a bully. Compassion is an incomparable force and someone with integrity would always choose this path.
They Give Credit
Sharing a spotlight is a knee jerk reaction of a person with integrity especially in teamwork. They don’t hog credits when they know the contribution of each member to a project. Giving credit where it is due shows how responsible and genuine a person is.
They Find Solutions Instead of Arguing
No matter how great your moral compass is, there is a line that is so tempting cross when you’re trying to get an idea on board. Instead of arguing their side, people with integrity will propose to find a solution together and find a way to compromise.
They See the Good in Other People
To believe and to trust in other people is a good way of receiving the reciprocated response. Instead of looking for the worst in people, they choose to believe in the good inside. This is a rare trait as the defensive response of human nature is to be wary of other people but persons with integrity will view others in good light no matter how challenging it is.
It’s too easy to point a finger when saying someone is a person with integrity. With these behavioral guidelines, you can now accurately determine if this person can be relied on, especially in the workplace. If you can genuinely point to one person you know, count your lucky stars and be inspired.
