Integrity, the most overused word in a corporate environment. And yet the least overstated word when it comes to acquiring desirable characteristics or personality traits. Integrity is critical when it comes to selecting the incumbent for a position of high responsibility or a leadership role. But before we get into it, what is integrity? Apart from being a big word that you hear every now and then if you work in a corporate environment, integrity refers to the idea of being integral and integer. Integral means the idea of being one unit. Hence, integrity refers to the idea of being consistent across the length and stretch of your existence.
For example, if you are a professional, your commitment reflects equally towards your organizational roles and your work role. If you follow discipline it reflects through your behaviour and work schedule. It also reflects in each and every area of professionalism such as dressing habits and indulgences. It is only when a person is consistent in a particular trait is when they take notice to others. Integrity in professionalism refers to the trait or characteristic of being committal. Commitment towards a profession as well as the organization consistently and with passion.
When someone displays the ability to be spotless and flawless in which they handle their work, the commitments to the organization and the commitments they have to their team members that is a singularly decisive quality that could change their fortunes for the better and greater responsibilities.
A leader is not someone who has higher merit but rather leadership. It refers to identifying and recognizing shortcomings. And accumulating together with a combined effort to rise above challenges in the direction of success. It is the encouragement and motivation coming from a person who themselves are virtuous in the areas. They demand excellence in that drives people to outdo their own capabilities. Integrity is demonstrated in a range of ways from being accountable for one’s words to take one for the team. A true leader leads from the front and what equips them with the support and co-operation of their stakeholders is their undisputed position at the helm in the real-time battlefield covering for the rest.
Integrity is what wins you the unconditional respect of your crew or team members as nothing impresses more or holds more value than a person with integrity, who stands for what they believe even if it is inconvenient. When addressing the masses, it is the words that our leaders and statesmen speak that win hearts and motivates them to proceed and progress in the face of apparent adversity and disaster for a greater cause without any concern or care for their own selves. When you achieve summits by propelling mass force inspired through the words that a leader spoke, it is only justified that the leader remembers his word and the men who fought by his side when they hoist the colours of victory at the very summit.
