Leadership Skills: Integrity

Integrity

Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principals. Integrity gives people credibility with those around them. Having integrity means following your moral conscious and being true to yourself with or without anyone around.

To have integrity means that a person is self-aware, accountable, responsible, and truthful and that his/her actions are internally consistent.

When a person with integrity says that his word is his bond, you know that you can rely on that. His values are consistent with his actions, and he is acting consistently across the domains of his life rather than being one way in the community and a completely different way in his family. People with integrity are also prepared to confront those who act unethically and take a stand against unethical behaviour, even if that is unpopular.

Here are three acts of integrity that can help during volunteering:

1. Take responsibility for your mistakes

If something goes awry, find help right away. Don’t be afraid to speak up and talk about what went wrong. With the help of a leader or colleague, you will likely be able to work through the problem, fix the mistake, and avoid any future accidents or injuries.

2. Respect others

When you are working with a team, respect is vital. Practice strong lines of communication and healthy conflict resolution to make sure that everyone feels safe and informed.

3. Work hard

Committing fully to the job you have been given and working as hard as you can to accomplish it with the best possible outcome is part of your integrity. Focusing on your job and giving it special care will help to eliminate mistakes and accidents, and it will also show the community you’re serving, and your team, that you truly care.

Integrity is the foundation/skill on which co-workers build relationships and trust, and it is one of the fundamental values that employers seek in the employees that they hire, because it indicates they will perform to the best of their ability and act on their principles.

Significance in Times of Crisis (e.g. pandemic)

Integrity on the corporate/organizational level is particularly important during a crisis when fear and uncertainty can permeate a workforce and a community. Words of the leaders and their actions can have a big impact on trust and reputation that will linger long after the crisis.