In my message last week about conducting self-analysis, I emphasized the importance of being accountable with honesty and integrity. But what exactly do those two traits mean? This week and next, I will dig deeper into these essential ingredients for successful business professionals.

I truly believe that there is one value that you literally cannot survive—let alone thrive—in business without:

Integrity.

Unfortunately, integrity isn’t talked about or emphasized nearly enough. Too many people operate with the “end justifies the means” mentality, especially in business.

Sales people overpromise and under-deliver in order to meet their monthly quotas. Customer service reps cover up their mistakes out of fear that their clients may take their business elsewhere. Employees take “sick” days when they need to get their holiday shopping done.

By and large, they aren’t bad or malicious people. It can be very tempting to find shortcuts or tell semi-truths in order to get what you want or avoid losing what matters most to you.

The majority of people who act without integrity believe they have a perfectly valid reason why the ends justifies the means. But the risk of compromising your integrity is great, and the value of acting with integrity is immeasurable.

Today, we’ll discuss how to let your integrity shine as a feature of your business. But first, let’s define our terms.

What is integrity?

Integrity means doing the right thing at all times and in all circumstances – regardless of who is watching. It isn’t always easy to do the right thing. In fact, sometimes it takes real courage. But, when you always act with integrity, you become a person whom others can trust and want to do business with.

In his book, Winners Never Cheat, multi-billionaire Jon Huntsman clearly captures this point:  “There are no moral shortcuts in the game of business or life… There are basically three kinds of people: the unsuccessful, the temporarily successful, and those who become and remain successful. The difference is character.” Character is integrity.

News (Good or Bad) Spreads Fast.

It takes time to build a reputation as a person with integrity, but just seconds to destroy that reputation. When business owners show integrity by honoring their word or being forthcoming when they make a mistake, their clients, customers, and peers in the industry take notice, and they talk.

People want to do business with characters of integrity whom they can trust to deliver and do the right thing. When you violate that trust, word inevitably spreads. It can be extremely difficult to regain that trust once you’ve damaged it.

Integrity is the Cornerstone of Leadership.

To achieve real, lasting success in business, you need to become a trusted industry leader and team leader. Leaders understand the paramount importance of keeping their word. They are careful not to make promises that they aren’t absolutely certain they can keep. Once they give their word, they do everything within their power to deliver.

People respect leaders who are truthful, especially when it’s difficult, and whose word is their bond. If you make an error, own it, and make it right. Staying true to these principles is the best way to gain the respect and trust of your team, your industry peers, and your ideal clients.

Show Integrity All the Time, Every Time.

Situations will arise in which you really feel as though you have a valid reason to make an exception to your 100% upright policy. But integrity has no exceptions. If you get the feeling you’re doing something that isn’t above-board, you probably are.

Remember: integrity isn’t situational, so never waver in situations large or small. When you make a decision or a judgment, err on the side of fairness, even in cases where the other people involved in the situation are treating you unfairly or without respect. Even if you lose in the short-term, by maintaining your integrity, you’ll win big in the end.

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I teach entrepreneurs and sales professionals the skills, tools, and mindsets they need to “double plus” their incomes this year while maintaining their integrity every step of the way. If you want to be that kind of business leader, contact me today.

I’ll close with a powerful quote from Alan Simpson:

“If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”

When you act with integrity, you’ll always be able to like what you see in the mirror … and build a prosperous Legacy Business in the process.

 

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Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus™” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with more than 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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