Integrity (as Company’s Value)
Integrity is a core value which is shown in ones behavior. In workplace, integrity is about having strong values and principles, which is indicated through your conduct in the work environment. In this article, Integrity and importance of integrity in workplace is discussed.
Integrity
Integrity is defined as the act of being honest & truthful and adhering to strong moral and ethical principles and values in a constant and unwavering manner. Even behind closed doors, someone with integrity does the right thing.
Integrity in Ethics
In ethics, integrity is defined as the honesty and sincerity of one’s conduct.
Integrity Examples
· A schoolteacher defying childhood conflict head-on by being honest with their superiors.
· A banker and loan officer owning up to their mistakes when there is a mistake in processing step.
· A digital marketer doing the right thing by accepting leadership responsibilities while their manager is away.
How to develop Integrity
Integrity Traits
Beyond having strong ethical norms, having integrity means you:
Integrity at Work
No matter who is watching, a person with integrity exhibits strong moral and ethical beliefs and does the right thing. Integrity is the base upon which colleagues create connection and trust, and it’s one amongst foremost major qualities that employers look for in new hires.
Having integrity at work means you:
· Are reliable and dependable
· Are trustworthy, particularly with classified information and confidential high-risk tasks
· Practice and encourage open communication along with your coworkers and managers
· Are respectful, honest, and patient along with your colleagues, managers, and clients
· Have a strong work ethic and attempt to deliver high-quality work consistently
· Are responsible for your behavior and actions, especially when you make a mistake
· Make sound decisions, even under high-stress situations
· Are equipped to produce high-quality service to your customers
Importance of Integrity
Having integrity entails being honest with everyone, keeping your word, and acting in accordance with your core values. Integrity is a quality that is highly regarded, especially among leaders. You’re more likely to be given serious consideration for significant promotions and leadership positions when you live honorably.
1. Encourages the development of better leaders.
Strong and ethical leaders are promoted by firms that hold their managers to high moral standards.
Integrity-driven leaders acknowledge that their actions, words, and decisions influence the company’s principles, culture, and morale. They place a high worth on their customers, function as role models for their team, and act with good intents instead of selfish objectives.
2. Open and positive work atmosphere.
Integrity is valued by a strong organization as a strategy to establish an open and positive work environment. Employees are more comfortable expressing their ideas, connecting with their team, and being themselves after they believe their organization runs on solid values.
3. Encourages people to make decisions in an ethical manner.
Maintaining high moral standards in the workplace aids team members in developing considered judgments on anything from protecting stakeholders to developing new products.
4. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are encouraged.
Integrity-oriented businesses value a varied workforce. They value diversity of thought, celebrate differences, and strive for workplace equality.
5. Encourages the formation of strong and resilient teams.
When a set of standards serves as a guide, teams become stronger and more resilient. At work, they also have a sense of meaning and purpose. This boosts their motivation, productivity, and involvement.
6. Builds and maintains trust in a proactive manner.
The key foundations of trust are honesty and integrity, both of which are necessary for establishing credibility. When it comes to keeping consumers and employees, a company’s credibility is the driving force that motivates them to stay.
Effects of Lack of Integrity
Impact on Employee Performance
A lack of ethics always has a negative effect on work performance. Employees are sometimes so involved with getting ahead and generating money that they ignore procedures and protocols. This may result in additional paperwork or workload, and careless errors that end in the task having to be completed again. Moreover, the employees following these rules & regulations often feel demotivated noticing the fact that they are not getting the appreciation, which often leads to a decrease in performance.
· Falsified reporting
If there is a risk of bad impression to the boss due to some report, one with no integrity values might not deliver it, or he may change it so that it looks better. And if his boss trusts him blindly, it’ll be okay for him to do that.
Employee Relations Are Affected
When a manager or head of an organization exhibits a lack of moral values and ethical behavior, he faces losing the respect of his employees. It is difficult to run a successful setup without well-respected leaders. Unethical behavior within the workplace also has the potential to lead to a lack of trust among employees, which is harmful to the organization that relies on collaboration and a sense of community.
Damage to Company Credibility
If a lack of moral values and ethical behavior in a business becomes public knowledge, that business loses credibility. Some businesses survive this public knowledge issue through advertising campaigns and rebuilding their image in face of public, while some couldn’t and lose a strong customer base. Though a business recovers from this news about its lack of ethics, it takes a lot of time and money to revive its image and consumer confidence.
Integrity may mean differently amongst different organizations; the rules & regulation and protocols may differ. However, it can be easily practiced if the employee and employer are both willing to do so.
