INTEGRITY

Integrity is the alignment, the correspondence, between what one THINKs (beliefs, values), what one SAYs to others, and what one DOes. This is to say, integrity exists when THINK = SAY = DO. Picture each of these (THINK, SAY, DO) as a circle.

When the three circles are separated, when there is no alignment between the three behaviors; the person is out of integrity. When the circles approach each other and overlap to become one circle, the person is integral. Behaviors within the concept of integrity include: honesty, sincerity, truthfulness, keeping one's word and agreements, punctuality, ethics, fairness and justice.

Integrity is the basing of one's actions on an internally consistent framework of principles. Depth of principles and adherence of each level to the next are key determining factors. One is said to have integrity to the extent that everything he does and believes is based on the same core set of values. While those values may change, it is their consistency with each other and with the person's actions that determine his integrity.

The concept of integrity is directly linked to responsibility in that implementation spawning from principles is designed with a specific outcome in mind. When the action fails to achieve the desired effect, a change of principles is indicated. Accountability is achieved when a faulty principle is identified and changed to produce a more useful action.

Integrity is living what you believe. Being true to what you believe. It is said of Integrity that, "It is better to have an enemy who keeps his word, than a friend who does not"

Indo community