Integrity

Integrity, in my opinion, can be described as a Value that motivates an individual to live an

honest and true life. Having a high regard for integrity is a significant attribute of an ethical
individual. This is why we have read in our course and lectures that one of the fundamental
values of ethics is integrity. Integrity enables a person to earn the trust of others. If you are with
someone in your personal or professional life and are not being honest and true with them, you
have forfeited your integrity in their presence.

Integrity entails consistently doing the correct thing. We like this personality feature because it
demonstrates a person's unwavering moral compass. It literally refers to a character's
"wholeness," much as an integer is a "whole number" devoid of fractions. It is the most critical
leadership concept and is based on integrity since it requires candor and truthfulness. Integrity
entails speaking the truth, regardless of how unpleasant the reality may be. It is preferable to be
truthful than to deceive people, as this will almost always result in your own deception.
Additionally, it implies consistency in terms of activities, attitudes, processes, metrics,
principles, expectations, and outcomes.

Integrity is comprised of the following character traits: honesty, dependability, accountability,

respect, gratitude, patience, and helpfulness.

• Honesty: As one seeks to be honest, the attribute of being honest with others is a
critical component of integrity.
• Respectful: Being respectful or demonstrating respect is another quality that can be
demonstrated by consideration of others' viewpoints or by being prompt, for
example....
• Self-accountability: One of the characteristics of persons with integrity is that they
accept responsibility for their own acts and hold themselves accountable. They do not
look for scapegoats or place blame on others.

The term "justice" frequently takes on a life of its own as a result of the situational attitudes of
people who are impacted. It is a moral idea founded on ethics, reason, law, natural law, religion,
or equity. Additionally, it is the act of being just and/or equitable. True Justice exists when
individuals have an equal starting position in a competition, regardless of their gender, sexual
orientation, beliefs, color, or money. As a result, they will have equal opportunities to compete
against one another without the impediments resulting from discrimination and inequality-based
behaviors. It is critical because it facilitates the peaceful transfer of wealth. Alternatively, justice
is the characteristic of the law that we refer to as "fairness." Additionally, justice ensures that the
advantages, protections, and punishments of the law are commensurate to an individual's
behaviour.

Integrity on a personal, organisational, and professional level:

Personal integrity is defined as a person's continual and unwavering honesty and sincerity in
their conduct. It's all about living a life guided by strong moral and ethical ideals. Professional
integrity entails abiding by social and professional conventions without jeopardizing one's moral
principles. The term "organizational integrity" refers to the moral and ethical standards that a
business promotes and upholds both internally and with its stakeholders. The connection is quite
evident, since one's personal integrity serves as the foundation for professional and
organizational honesty. They may diverge at times, but the individual never loses his or her
integrity. The converse is likewise true in cases when an institution or society has corrupted an
honest and morally upright individual.

As humans, we require values that define who we are and our current state of being. When we
consider the impact of personal integrity and a moral foundation, we realise that not only are
such values necessary for us personally, but that at the heart of it all, there needs to be an anchor
that allows our boat (metaphor) to stay close to the ground (values) as we journey far and wide in
this endeavour called life. Certain things are only possible via morality. We might consider the
principles of truth, fairness, and ethics, whether in our professional or personal lives, to be
impacted by the values we hold dear. Integrity serves a purpose in that it is critical to our ability
to maintain order as well as the ideals of honesty, sincerity, and honour, all of which are useful to
us in some manner. Employers admire such loyalty, honesty, and morality because they enable
us to develop proficiency in our professional lives, direct our behaviour away from unethical
activities, and provide us favorability in the eyes of our employers, which is a crucial step in any
attempt in life, personal or professional. All of our actions must have a method, and that method
is supplied by solid moral foundations and self-integrity, which enable us to excel in every
period of life or scenario that comes our way.
Example:

For instance, suppose there are students in a class who are completing a test. One student, Tom,
observed his friend Mike cheating on an exam. Mike corrected the cheating paper that had been
left on another student's desk. Then another kid is apprehended after the teacher discovers
cheating slips underneath his desk. Teacher approached Tom and inquired as to who committed
the cheating, since instructor believed Tom always told the truth and was a person of Integrity,
Tom informed the teacher that Mike was the one who committed the cheating. If Tom had
spoken a falsehood, he risked losing his integrity with the teacher and in class.

We can see from this example that integrity not only fosters ethical ideals such as honesty,
fairness, and truthfulness, but also shapes our character in life. Integrity enables a person to be
honest to himself and hence to others. A person lacking in integrity is akin to a person without a
back, since no one will believe or step forward to assist a person lacking in integrity.

In professional situations, we frequently see bosses or managers instructing their staff to

intentionally mislead consumers or investors in order to generate a profit. For instance, an
accountant may be requested by his management to alter accounting statistics and statements, but
an accountant with integrity may decide to perform his duties honestly and truthfully, refusing to
comply with the boss's immoral orders. This builds a person's reputation, which pays dividends
in the long run.