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Integrity
 What
does it mean?
Oxford English Dictionary, 5th
Edition
Definition of Integrity
 The condition of having no part or element
taken away or lacking, undivided state;
completeness

The condition of not being marred or violated;
unimpaired condition; original state; soundness

Freedom from moral corruption; innocence,
sinlessness. Soundness of moral principle; the
character of uncorrupted virtue, honesty,
sincerity
© C. Gray & Associates, 2011
Integrity is…
Integrity is…
 Do
the right thing!
Integrity is when..
…you can be
trusted to
keep your
promises.
So when we have integrity we:
 •Are
authentic — conducting our
lives in a way that is true to our
values
 •Act consistently and avoid moral
relativism
 •Take responsibility and “own” all
of our feelings and behaviors
 •Do what we say we will do
 •Hold ourselves accountable
Contrast Between Ethics and Integrity

Standards established by
organizations or
professional societies

Codes or rules of conduct

Written and shared with
employees or members for
compliance with those
standards.

A value or personal factor
that enables a person to
uphold ethical standards

Integrity is honesty,
truthfulness, consistency
of words and actions,
without compromise and
the state of being
complete or whole.
What is Ethics
What is Integrity
© C. Gray & Associates, 2011
Integrity Means

You are your word.

It defines how people view you.

Extent of honoring your word = your level of
integrity

Your actions are aligned with your word

Your actions create trust because you honor your
word
Dimensions of Integrity

Intrapersonal
 Integrity level you have with yourself

Interpersonal
 Integrity level in relation to interactions with other people

Organizational
 Integrity level regarding your interaction with the
organization
 Your perceptions the organization’s level of integrity
© C. Gray & Associates, LLC, 2011
Characteristics of Intrapersonal
Integrity

Take risks in order to do what you feel is right

Stand for what you believe even when unpopular

Follow through on your commitments

Unwilling to compromise values for advancement

Aware of your limitations

Honor health and personal needs
Note: These are some examples of characteristics
© C. Gray & Associates, 2011
Interpersonal Integrity
 Openness & Honesty with Others
 Transparency with Information
 Address Your Mistakes & Conflicts
 Vulnerability
 Clarify Expectations
 Accountability
 Keep Commitments and Deliver Results
Note: These are some examples of characteristics
© C. Gray & Associates, 2011
Organizational Integrity

Use of Resources “Fraud”

Use of Time – Abuse or Excess

Conflict of Interest

Alignment with Vision & Mission

Alignment with Policies & Procedures

Commitment Level “Disengagement”

Performance
Note: These are some examples of characteristics
© C. Gray & Associates, 2011
© C. Gray & Associates, LLC, 2011
Quote from Speed of Trust by Covey

“What most people think about when they
think about trust. Integrity means honesty.
It’s integratedness. It’s walking the talk.
It’s being congruent, inside and out. It’s
having the courage to act in accordance
with your values and beliefs. Interestingly,
most massive violations of trust are
violations of integrity.”
Integrity is Important because it:
 Sustains leaders who are continually
challenged to compromise from internal and
external pressure
 Enables a leader to hold firm to values and
ethical standards
 Maintains consistency of action and values
© C. Gray & Associates, 2011
Integrity is Important because it:

Allows leaders to behave according to what
they profess to hold true

Affects trust, dependability, respect, which
influences interactions and access

Preserves a leader or organization’s standing
in the public and private arenas
© C. Gray & Associates, 2011
Integrity Requires

Doing what is right versus expedient & easy

Making difficult decisions and acting on them

Making adjustments based on the situation and
the people

Doing your best you with responsibilities

Being accountable
© C. Gray & Associates, 2011
Ways to Maintain Integrity

Be honest with yourself (Limits, Needs, Etc.)

Communicate with Candor (Tell others what you need)

Honor commitments

Identify gaps between your word and actions

Renegotiate when you can’t keep your word
 Apologize
 Restore integrity
© C. Gray & Associates, 2011
IT’S WHO WE ARE…
AND WHO
WE ARE
DETERMINES
WHAT WE DO
Root word is “intact”-When a
person have integrity, his words and
deeds match up. It is not divided, it
has no hidden agenda
We are who we are, irregardless of
where we are and who we’re with.
WE STRUGGLE DAILY
WITH SITUATION
THAT DEMANDS
DECISION BETWEEN:
1.WHAT WE WANT
TO DO and
2. WHAT WE
OUGHT TO DO.
INTEGRITY IN WORD
1. Say
nothing for which you are
not willing to accept full
responsibility. Say nothing
about an absent person which
you would be unwilling to
repeat in his presence.
INTEGRITY IN WORD
2. Beware of a compulsion always to
comment or say something about matters
under discussion. Be willing to delay your
comments. You do not need to tell
everything you know unless your
information is essential to the discussion.
Speak when your comments are needed;
be silent when they will not be beneficial.
INTEGRITY IN WORD
3. Be positive in as many of your
comments as possible. Avoid the
reputation for being a negative person.
4. Express full and cordial credit to all
those to whom you are indebted for ideas
and help.
5. Avoid plagiarism in speaking or writing.
6. Do not assume the attitude of an
authority in areas where your
information, experience are incomplete.
INTEGRITY IN WORD
7. Be as careful and understanding in your
remarks about others.
8. Be slow to give credence to negative
reports and continue to believe the best
as long as possible.
9. Never criticize the motives of others. You
rarely can put yourself in their position
and so fully understand their motivation.
Always give the benefit of the doubt.
Remember, you do not know the full
motives.
INTEGRITY IN WORD
10. Be totally honest in intention in
everything you say.
11. Be accurate in every reporting
descriptions. Beware of overgeneralization, understatement, or
exaggeration.
12. All statements must be so fair,
equitable, and uncolored in description
that your comments could be repeated
without hesitation regardless of whoever
is present.
INTEGRITY IN WORD
13. Avoid
statements which can be
understood two ways. Avoid all
duplicity; let your positions be
clear-cut. If you change your
position, say so, but beware of
appearing to equivocate. Watch
lest people feel they cannot
depend on what you say.
INTEGRITY IN PERSONAL ETHICS
 Be
an example in your person and home
in cleanliness, and harmony.
 Be an example of consideration, fairness,
sensitivity to the feelings and rights of
others. Always show respect in all
interpersonal relations.
 Be an example of gentleness and maturity
in your reactions to the thoughtlessness,
affronts, insults, opposition, and hostility
of others. All must be responded to with
forgiveness.
Closing Thoughts
© C. Gray & Associates, 2011
Integrity Summary

You are your word and it defines how others view
you

You are 100% responsible for your word

When you function with integrity, unfinished
business disappears

Nobody ever achieves 100% integrity

Become aware of areas to increase integrity
© C. Gray & Associates, 2011
Integrity Is:
Living with Integrity
means
continually striving
to make all aspects of your life
consistent
with what you say.
© C. Gray & Associates, 2011