HOW FAST DO YOU DRIVE WHEN NOBODY IS LOOKING? HOW FAST DO YOU DRIVE WHEN YOUR 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT?
DEFINITION:
Integrity, noun
Honesty, honor, good character, unification, coherence, togetherness.
Integrity is all about living your values, even when nobody is watching. It is one thing to have a strong value system, it is another to have integrity. Achieving organizational alignment is all about creating integrity from top-to-bottom. We can not achieve alignment when we have weak links when it comes to integrity. Every level of an organization must align with the overall values mission and goals. Every individual of the organization must buy in and must conduct their lives in alignment with the organizational values, mission and goals.
VALUES AND INTEGRITY
Values are commonly held beliefs of a group of people. They are ideas that are part of us and can not be turned on or off. Our individual values do not change when we come to work or when we go home at night. They are part of us.
Not everyone shares the same values. In fact, we probably all have different values and interpretations of values. However, an organization must be comprised of individuals who share that organization's values. Like all values, these values are part of each individual and do not get turned on or off when people go home at night. We practice these values in every aspect of our lives, even when nobody is watching!
DON'T BE SHY ABOUT VALUES
We all need values. We spend the majority of our lives working. So it stands to reason that we should want to work in organizations that have strong values that we can hold. In today's world our value systems are often at odds with our activities. Leaders create, communicate and live by well-defined value systems. Those who follow, buy into these value systems and practice them with integrity. Most individuals seek strong, structured values systems that have integrity.
NOT EVERYONE SHARES OUR VALUES
It is likely that there are individuals in your organization who do not hold all of the company values. This represents a fragility in your organization's alignment. If you have taken the time to develop a strong values system and have practiced it with integrity people will begin to embrace the values.
Individuals who do not have integrity in the company value system, or demonstrate that they disagree with the company values will self select out of your organization with haste. They will not be successful under your leadership and are not likely to be rewarded for their efforts. This does not mean that they are bad individuals, it simply means that they do not share your organizational values, and are therefore not a fit.
PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE
- Integrity begins with you. Don't adopt or embrace values that you cannot live by, on the job and off the job.
- Reinforce value integrity. Not everyone thinks about integrity and values, so you must communicate and explain why your company values matter, on the job and off the job.
- Tell stories. Look for stories or examples of where you have used your company values outside of your work environment. Demonstrate how powerful values are in everyday life.
- Recognize that we all need values. Don't assume that everyone has a strong value system. Create one and share it, you will be surprised at what a powerful motivator values are.
