It is important in any business to have integrity for the longevity and sustainability of both employees and the business.
Integrity: according to dictionary.com integrity is adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
It seems we are in an epidemic of lack of integrity both from leaders and those they lead. In my own observation and understanding of human nature, I believe the reason behind this phenomenon is an evolution in how we think, believe and perceive ourselves in our position and relations to others.
As a result of years with the gradual development of the “need” to be bigger, better and stronger than the man/woman next to us, we have gravitated towards such deep filters it has caused us to believe in truths that affect our core integrity.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone who says something you believe to be true and they say it with conviction, only to find out later it was a half truth?
Once you realize what they said is not really true; although there may be some truth in it, now you may start to develop some dis-trust in your relationship with this person. You begin to question their integrity and believe they have deceived you. The struggle you may come up against is the person may not be malicious and has good intentions, but the communication is not authentic in integrity.
As a result of this shift in honesty it is important to stay true to your own integrity. I know when I experience something like this, it causes me to begin to question if I really want to do business with this person, do I want to keep moving forward and for how long with the hopes that things will improve.
Ultimately, as long as the other person is operating from a place where the filters are causing either half-truths or false truths, then my ability to feel there is going to be a healthy co-operation diminishes.
Half-Truth: according to dictionary.com half-truth is a statement that is only partly true, especially one intended to deceive, evade or blame; a statement that fails to divulge the whole truth.
When the mind convinces us that what we are saying is true and okay, then we believe it to be true. In the meantime, those who are the recipients of the half-truth knows it does not match with actions. The conundrum this puts us in can create experiences where there could be success, but instead there is chaos with the potential for disaster.
Once we begin to deceive, we inadvertently create fear, uncertainty and the need to continue the deception.
Deception occurs when we act like we are following the rules and being honest, while misleading and trying secretly to break or avoid them.
Maxim of Quality: you say something that you know is literally not true.
Maxim of Quantity: you can say something that is literally true, but incomplete. You leave out critical and important details.
Maxim of Relation or Manner: you try to change the topic or you can appear to give a response which doesn’t really answer the question.
** While people may feel better telling an indirect lie vs. a direct lie, if you are being misled you will feel lied to either way.
With so many ways half-truths can be expressed, how can you discern early on the level of integrity of the person or people you are involved with?
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Tips:
If there is any inclination from that knowing part of yourself that a red flag has just occurred, pay attention! Either log it and watch for confirmation or consider it strike one.
If you begin to feel uneasy about the direction of the communication and that integrity has been compromised, speak up with confidence. Otherwise you will hindsight later questioning why you did nothing earlier.
Understand the personality of the person you are interacting with. Their ability to have integrity at the level you expect may not be easy and you may need to give them some time to adjust to your way of communicating.[/message] [su_spacer]
False Truths: according to urbandictionary.com a false truth is something believed by many people to be true but is not. It is usually something that cannot be backed up with hard evidence; a very subtle lie that most would not be able to determine whether it is true or not.
I feel integrity is important and I strive daily to live in a way that I honor it both in myself and in others. It can take a higher awareness of what is behind a person not having integrity, taking steps to stay in honest relations and working with others with collaboration and cooperation.
How do you feel about integrity in today’s world? Let me know your thoughts…..
Thanks for bringing up this subject. It is a sad state of affairs that we have to be at the position of questioning it.
Your comment ‘It seems we are in an epidemic of lack of integrity both from leaders and those they lead’ … Incidentally, although I’m not a religious person, I’m wondering if there is a correlation between ‘decline in integrity’ and a similar ‘decline in belief’?
Having read about the Pope’s comments (that there is ‘no hell’), do you think this will give people carte blanche attitude to relegate humanity to the bottomless pit of societal decline – as they feel they won’t have to pay for the consequences anymore?
Just a thought and throwing it out there for pondering upon.
Kaye, you are most welcome. Great question….as an avid “observer” of life and people, what I see transpiring into today’s environment is “the freedom of speech” has been taken to the extreme with little to no boundaries. There is a sense of “entitlement” for the younger generation who seem to not have an upbringing of understanding respect, communication and non-violence as a way to connect with others.
Whatever someone “says,” does not hold value unless we give it value. Cause and effect happens as a general law of the universe and it comes full circle through experiences. Lessons will be learned, trials and tribulations will be fought, and the push to higher awareness is in force.
With the age of technology and information being at our fingertips, the element of influence is strong. People are believing they have the “right” for this, that and the other…..with disregard for consequences and how it affects themselves and the whole. Mind games, propaganda, lack of cohesion and lack of accepting differences, people exerting their own beliefs wanting others to follow, and a general sense of disconnect and being out of balance is causing an upheaval in humanity on the macro level.
Integrity and belief can go hand in hand…..whereby, whatever the level of integrity someone has, their belief will follow. Fortunately, beliefs can change and integrity can be strengthened. But, as long as we as humans are trying to pull the seams together, with much resistance, the struggle will continue.
Leading by example is the best way to be in the world, but not of it and hope that others will follow. It is a crazy world today, and yet there is another side that is wonderful, amazing and extraordinay. I like to say….give time and energy to the one that feels the best!
I agree 100%. When I retire and live about 5 acres of land at some distance away from the city. I think integrity has become a Lost art. The younger generation seems to be about getting what they want regardless of the consequences.