INTEGRITY: A WAY OF LIFE

Integrity is how somebody lives their life. In this life we live, we face
choices every day that only we can answer. We dictate how we run our own
lives and the way we run them to define us. Integrity is doing the right thing
versus the wrong thing. The word ‘integrity’ itself has a Latin origin. It is
derived from the word ‘integer’ and means to feel whole, i.e. a whole person.
So it refers to the sense of completeness and togetherness one enjoys when
they live their lives honestly and morally. People, if nothing else, can always
have their pride, their integrity.
If we’re all forced to comply, we would have a much more trustworthy
world. Nobody compels us to do anything, and that is the point. Our integrity
can only be developed by one person: ourselves. Nobody can control our
integrity. Integrity is vital to a community. There is a famous saying which
perfectly describes integrity. “Honesty is telling the truth to other people,
integrity is telling the truth to myself.” So a person that has integrity will act
and behave as per set values and believes they hold dear.
Academic integrity refers to the ethical policies and moral code employed in
the academic world by all members – it involves being honest and doing the
right thing even if you get no recognition for doing so. It includes being
honest and correct when no one is watching. Academic integrity is important
to lay down a good foundation for the student, so he can follow the same
principles for the rest of his life. Integrity leads to trust-building among
colleagues and friends. It is also the sign of a good future leader. It is a good
habit to develop early in your life, it will hold you in good stead as you
progress in your life.
So basic things like doing your homework, writing your papers, not
plagiarizing your essays or dissertations, not cheating on home tests, never
cheating on any assignments, and generally doing your work ethically and
honestly are the all essential. They are the building blocks of academic
integrity.
Integrity is one of the essential value an employer always seeks in his
employees. So professional integrity is when a person adopts his values and
integrity to his chosen profession and job. Sound moral and ethical beliefs
and basic honesty are highly valued characteristics in an employee. Such an
employee behaves morally with his co-workers, his superiors and all other
stakeholders of the organization. Acting with integrity and honesty is an
actual advantage in the workplace. It builds trust and people are drawn
towards such honest and dependable behaviour.
Not only students and professionals, but integrity is also a value that
everyone should strive for. Integrity is a trait that goes a long way in making
people a better version of themselves, better human beings in general. And a
person with true integrity does things because it is the right thing to do, and
never for any praise or recognition. True integrity is never practised for
recognition or praise but to fulfil personal values. A person with true
integrity exhibits certain traits such as, they take responsibility for all their
actions, always help others in need, often put the needs of others above
themselves, respect everyone that deserves their respect, are usually humble
and exhibit humility, generally very reliable and are kind by nature
Lack of integrity is the root cause of corruption. Integrity is personal; it is a
character trait and not a generality applied across society. Integrity is
different from what we call ethics, which has external rules and beliefs.
Integrity and ethics are close relatives; however, one is individual the other
communal.
To mainstream integrity, there must be a common set of rules, values,
beliefs, and principles applicable for an ethical public sector that is at least
acceptable, if not consistent, with those held by individual employees. The
creation of anti-corruption laws and commissions, offices of government
conduct, codes of behaviour, and similar initiatives will not effectively
reduce corruption if individual integrity is not addressed.
Some survey comments revealed that public health workers, immigration
officers, police, and court employees considered corruption to be caused by
1) leaders widely underpaying staff, 2) operational funds being centralized,
3) the nepotism of leaders in employment practices, and 4) poor policies
suffering from poor implementation. Public sector employees considered
their leaders to be ultimately responsible for their corrupt behaviour, not
themselves.
As per law, work is integrity.