Integrity as defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary as: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values. Blythe McGarvie writes about the importance of maintaining your integrity and he defines it as values of your innermost core.
Excerpts from: "Never Lose Integrity" by Blythe McGarvie, President and Founder, Leadership for International Finance
The most important lesson I've learned is, you have to keep your integrity. That's the one thing you can't lose. Your reputation will precede you no matter what you do, and keeping your integrity is the most important thing.
... instead of just doing what your boss wants you to do, think about it first, because it's going to reflect on you. I've changed jobs in my career. I've gone to different companies, and within a company, I've changed jobs. It's only natural to want to feel that you want to please your boss. The first thing you want to do is make your boss look good. You want to please your boss, make sure that he's happy with your results, but never do it at the expense of what you believe is right.
Integrity is the only thing we have. We learn it very early in life. Sometimes we might fail. We experience things that might rekindle that integrity, but you always have to be diligent, because it's the only thing you have. And if you lose it, it takes a long time - if at all - for you to gain it back.
- No matter what individuals do, their reputations precede them, so it's vital to always maintain your integrity. Although it's natural to want to solve problems and please your boss, solutions should never come at the expense of your reputation.
- Integrity means different things to different people, but it always comes down to a person's core values. When you are faced with problems that could jeopardize your integrity, it's important to look at all the options.
- Once an individual's reputation has been tarnished or lost, it can be nearly impossible to regain it. You must strive to value and maintain your own integrity.
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