Take a vow of integrity

Integrity is non-negotiable; it’s what earns trust from others, strengthens your credibility and gives you leverage beyond skill and talent. When you commit to integrity, you conduct yourself in an honest, trustworthy and ethical manner at all times. You ;

HONOUR YOUR OBLIGATIONS : Integrity is not a matter of convenience, it’s a contract first with yourself and with others. Obligations are agreements, keep them whether they are small like promising to return a phone call or big such as being loyal to your team. If something prevents you from keeping any agreements, communicate this as far as possible in advance. Walking the talk makes you a good role model

WALK AWAY FROM TOXIC ENVIRONMENTS : When you are in danger of becoming someone you don’t like you are definitely in the wrong place. You run the risk of sabotaging your chances of becoming better and being respected. Toxic environments can be any thing that brings out the worst in you or makes you party to unhealthy manoeuvrings and keeps you always in negative mode.

HAVE A STRONG WORK ETHIC: Develop a performance bond with yourself to always do your best. Don’t work on the basis of how much you are paid, neither withdraw your commitment when things don’t seem to be going your way. As a person of integrity you don’t settle for mediocrity; you don’t throw tantrums when you feel you are being treated unfairly- you talk about it. You don’t look for an excuse to be sloppy in your work but find whatever help you can get to do the best in the circumstances.

DON'T UNDERMINE OTHERS: There are many ways we undermine others. without realising that our integrity takes a knock;. badmouthing the boss, trashing other people’s ideas without reason, going above your boss without their knowledge; being obnoxiously competitive, telling on your colleagues; and setting a person up for failure Wanting something badly is no excuse to do any of these. Be above board, Know the unspoken rules and boundaries in your organisation you shouldn’t cross. It helps you stay on the right side.

DON'T JUMP SHIP IN TOUGH TIMES : A team or organisation needs to be able to count on the loyalty of its members. Don’t commit only when it’s convenient. Be professional and consistent and don’t duck at the first sign of challenging times. Pace yourself if you need to but don’t bail out completely. Try not to deal with several stressful issues at once. Stay constructive and don’t give reason to believe that you can’t be relied on.

AVOID SELF-SERVING BEHAVIOUR: Office politics takes many forms and allows people to justify all sorts of unacceptable behaviour in order to get ahead. Being excellent in your job and being a team player is by far the most effective method of achieving success ‘honourably’. It may take longer but is a more rooted, more transparent and easier to sustain for the long term.

Now take action: How can you demonstrate greater integrity in life and work?