Jan 06 2009
The Success Factors - Integrity By Michael Oksa
The Success Factors - Integrity By Michael Oksa
In this day and age it seems as though one of the basics of success has taken a back seat to personal gain. People in high positions often seem to try to get ahead at all costs, even at the expense of their principles. Integrity is the idea of sticking to your principles. Most of us understand that. You simply avoid doing what is wrong and stand up for what you believe in. However, there is a bit more to real integrity than that.
Not doing what’s wrong is a given, this idea is taught to us from a very young age. So, the most basic element of integrity is to avoid doing the wrong thing. If you’re not doing this already, it’s probably a good idea to start. As mentioned, integrity is more than that though. It is also doing what is right, even when it is not convenient. This can be hard.
Gossip is a good example. With some forethought it may be easy to not engage in gossip, that would be not doing what is wrong. However, in this case, doing the right thing would be confronting the gossiper along with the person being gossiped about. Not in an underhanded way, but in an open and friendly manner. In effect, you would be stopping the gossip, getting the two parties to communicate, sending a strong message and acting with integrity. In situations like this, tact is important. You do not have to be rude to maintain your integrity.
Keeping your word. To be a success you will need the help of a lot of people. These people need to trust you, and one of the best ways to develop that trust is to keep your word. Who would you rather want to help? Someone who is unreliable? Makes excuses? Goes back on their word? Or, someone who is proven to be reliable and trustworthy? Being known as a person of your word will get you farther than almost anything else on the path to success. In fact, it is impossible to go back on your word and be a person of integrity at the same time. There are times when extenuating circumstances may prevent you from keeping your word. In those cases you have to own up to it and…
Take responsibility. If you make a mistake, as we all know, the right thing to do is admit it. A person of integrity does even more than that - they try to fix it. Taking responsibility does not mean making excuses, as mentioned earlier. Just saying you are wrong is sometimes all it takes. Other times you will have to take charge and do your best to make it right. You can admit you are wrong, act with humility and still maintain your integrity.
Be fair. You can do all of the above, but if you treat people unfairly it won’t matter. It is impossible to be 100% fair all of the time, after all you are dealing with people. At the very least, you should strive to be fair. Then, on those occasions when you slip up, people will know you are trying to be fair. Those who treat people unfairly really do not embrace true integrity. If you think about, how can someone be sticking to a certain set of principles if they use those principles differently, depending on whom they are dealing with?
Just as it is with first impressions, it is much easier to keep integrity than it is to try to regain it once it is gone. Yes, doing what’s right may be difficult or uncomfortable, but it is the key element of integrity. Is it possible to get ahead without integrity? Yes, but you will enjoy it more if you have it, and the view from the top will be as satisfying as it is well-earned.
Michael Oksa is the publisher of the Income Success Journal. Get your free subscription which includes frequent updates of tips, techniques, and success methods of the world’s most successful people. In addition, he includes a monthly newsletter at no additional charge.
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